Motorists are seeing steady declines at the gas pump. Tennessee gas prices have declined the last 14 consecutive days for a total of nine cents. During the past week, the state average dropped six cents. Tuesday’s state average of $2.32 is three cents less than a month ago, and 25 cents more than this time last year. AAA spokesman Mark Jenkins said gasoline prices declined as forecast, based on significant gains in both oil and gasoline production in the United States. Jenkins said although we may see additional discounts at the pump this week, this downward trend has a...

Combating Tennessee’s opioid crisis: More than a dozen legislative proposals have been introduced. Gov. Bill Haslam’s plan to address the opioid epidemic focuses on addiction prevention and rehabilitation for addicts – a combo attack many hope will put a significant dent in the number of residents affected. About $25 million of the $30 million in the governor’s budget, if passed, will go toward treatment. In addition to the governor’s two signature bills, lawmakers have introduced at least 15 other pieces of legislation dealing with opioids. These include such measures as a proposal to decrease TennCare costs for opioid alternatives...

As Tennessee eyes a wave of executions, attorneys for 33 death row inmates are challenging the three-drug combination in lethal injections. Tuesday’s lawsuit in Davidson County Chancery Court claims these drugs haven’t been used yet in Tennessee but present a substantial risk of serious and severe pain and suffering and were used in botched executions in other states. The lawsuit could delay one man’s Aug. 9 execution and sidetrack eight proposed executions requested before June by Attorney General Herbert Slatery, who has said it’s uncertain whether officials can get lethal injection chemicals after that. In a previous filing, Slatery...

The Coffee County Jail has been recommended by the Tennessee Corrections Institute (TCI) for certification for the third year in a row and the jail annex for the first year. Coffee County Sheriff Steve Graves says the jail on County Jail Lane and the annex on Hillsboro Blvd. in Manchester both met the required standards for the certification. TCI is required to establish minimum standards for adult local jails, lock-ups, workhouses and detention facilities in the state. The agency’s Board of Control establishes the standards to inspect and certify local correctional facilities. Inspections and re-inspections are conducted within the...

Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam says applications are now being accepted for adults who want to enroll tuition-free this fall at a community college or technical college. In a news release Thursday, the governor’s office says Tennessee Reconnect applications can be completed online. Enrollees need to apply to a community college or other eligible institution, file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid form and enroll in a degree or certificate program at least part-time. To be eligible, a student can’t have an associate or bachelor’s degree, must be a Tennessee resident for at least one year and must be...

Where can students go to learn about history and environmental science in a hands-on setting from leading state experts? The Tennessee State Parks Conservancy is offering more than $5,000 in grants to support public school field trips to Tennessee State Parks. Students can explore an 18th century trade cabin at Bledsoe Creek State Park, wade in the Duck River to learn about the water cycle at Henry Horton State Park or learn about any variety of things from Park Rangers who are trained in interpretive programming. The Tennessee State Parks Conservancy’s ‘School of the Great Outdoors Field Trip Fund’...

Motlow State Community College is offering a five-week ACT preparation class for area high school students planning to take the national test this spring. The class will meet each Monday in March and the first Monday in April, from 6 – 8:30 p.m. in Simon Hall, room 132, on the Moore County campus. The registration deadline is Feb. 28, and the course is limited to 35 students. Registration forms can be obtained on Motlow’s web site at mscc.edu/wdes. Completed forms can be mailed or faxed to the address indicated on the form, however, registration is not complete until payment...

On Friday night a juvenile was allegedly involved in an incident at 989 Interstate Drive, Manchester, TN. Manchester Officer Jamie Norris spoke with Joseph Kurtis Brummett 29 year-old of Manchester who advised he was approached by the suspect with a pistol. The man told police he was forced from the vehicle and the juvenile left the scene in the Mercedes. The juvenile was located by Tennessee Highway Patrolman Randy Euler around Exit 97 on Interstate 24. He continued on I-24 leading officers on a pursuit into Rutherford County. The vehicle was spiked stripped by Rutherford County deputies near Medical...