The Tennessee Capitol Commission has voted not to remove the bust of Nathan Bedford Forrest from the state capitol building. The vote was 7 – 5 against removal. The bust sits between the Tennessee House and Senate on the second floor of the state capitol. It has been the target of protests for years. The latest push to remove it comes after violent protests started by white supremacists in Charlottesville, Virginia. Gov. Bill Haslam urged the Capitol Commission to take action, saying, “I do not believe Nathan Bedford Forrest should be one of the individuals we honor at the...

The Tennessee secretary of state’s office says it has begun offering online voter registration. WPLN-FM reports the office has initiated a “soft launch” of the online system. In the past, residents who moved, had their registrations purged for inactivity or were never registered and had to contact county election commissions directly or sign up in person through a state agency. The legislature passed the online system last year. Democratic state Sen. Lee Harris of Memphis, who was among the co-sponsors, says he understands it takes only three minutes or less to register online. He says he hopes it will...

Tennessee environment officials say the whole state now complies with federal air quality health standards for particle pollution. The last remaining areas in Tennessee to achieve “attainment” designation from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency were finalized last week. Those areas are Anderson, Knox, Blount and Loudon counties and part of Roane County. The state Department of Environment and Conservation said in a news release that local, state and federal governments have been monitoring and working to reduce air pollution for nearly five decades. The EPA says particle pollution contains microscopic solids or liquid droplets that are so small they...

An Indiana truck driver is being held on a $205,000 bond in the Coffee County Jail following an incident of road rage on Interstate 24. Timothy Lynn Kepner, 44, of Indiana was charged with two counts of ATTEMPTED criminal homicide and two counts of reckless endangerment on Aug. 30 by deputies from the Coffee County Sheriff’s Department. According to a report by Deputy Nick Graham, the Coffee County Communication Center advised officers that a semi-truck driver and a car were involved in an incident. The officer’s report states that the driver of the car told the deputy that they...

Moore County Criminal Investigators Shane Taylor and Mike Rainey have been working several burglaries, auto thefts, and theft of property complaints involving several cases in Moore and Franklin Counties. On May 09, 2017 in the early morning hours, Deputy Jerod Bradford observed a truck spinning out in a crop field on Chapel Rd. in Moore County. Once Deputy Bradford approached, he noticed a small primer colored car sitting idle in the roadway, as they were watching the truck in the field. Once the deputy initiated his emergency lights, the car sped away in the opposite direction, as well as...

The American Legion Gold Star Post 78 in Manchester will be hosting the annual Patriot Day ceremony on the square in Manchester on Sept 11. The event will begin at 11am. The American Legion will be honoring local first responders as well as the many who died on 9-11-2001. The American Legion members invite everyone to come to square for the ceremony. They will be presenting plaques to deserving first...

Motlow State Community College will host its annual area-wide College and Career Fair on Thursday, Sept. 7, from 9:00-11:30 a.m. inside Nisbett Center on the Moore County campus. The event is held in cooperation with the Tennessee Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers. The dual fair targets area public and private high school and homeschool students, Motlow students, as well as the general public. Admission is free and over 50 vendors will be...

During the early morning hours of August 1st, 2017, Bedford County deputies responded to a home invasion in the Deason Community on Hwy 231 North. Deputies and other law enforcement officials apprehended one of the suspects involved, John Gooch. On August 18th, 2017, Investigators with the Bedford County Sheriff’s Office obtained arrest warrants on two other suspects involved in the home invasion, Olin Kicklighter III and Olin Kicklighter IV. On Wednesday morning US Marshals were able to take Olin Kicklighter IV into custody in Savannah, GA. Law enforcement is still searching for Kicklighter III. He’s wanted for aggravated robbery...