The State Senate will consider a bill Thursday to require able-bodied TennCare recipients to work. The House approved the bill Monday 72-23 which mandates adults without dependent children under the age of six seek employment. If passed, the state would need a federal waiver for the bill, as TennCare serves as the state’s Medicaid service. House Democrats tried to add ... Read More »

The Putnam County Schools will make the switch to LED lights at all its school facilities before the new school term begins. County Commissioners approved a $2.5 million loan for the project Monday night. The project will replace lights inside and out with the exception of field lighting. “It’s usage, that’s where you save the bulk of your funds,” Putnam ... Read More »

New courtroom security standards across the Volunteer state will better protect citizens and court officials alike. That’s according to 13th District Circuit Court Judge Amy Hollars. The Livingston-based judge one of eight members statewide of the Tennessee Judicial Conference Security Committee. The group began its work after three security issues in Tennessee courthouses last year. The most serious happened in ... Read More »

Putnam County Executive Randy Porter told county commissioners Monday night the revenue picture looks healthy. “Everything looks positive,” Porter said. “I think we’re good on all the revenues.” Porter said the county has collected about 97 percent of property taxes as of February 28. He said that number looks similar to last year. Four months remain in the current fiscal ... Read More »

The Tennessee State House voted 81-8 Monday to approve a bill displaying “In God We Trust” at every school statewide. The bill, sponsored by Senator Paul Bailey, requires a prominent location of the national motto. The senate approved the bill 28-0 earlier this month. The house version brought to a floor vote Monday. Read More »

135 games played. It had never happened. Until Friday night, when your March bracket blew up. A 16-seed defeated a 1-seed for the first time since the NCAA tournament expanded to 64 teams in 1985. Maryland Baltimore County beat Virginia in the NCAA First Round. It begs the question. Mathematically or statistically, should a #16 team have won before now? ... Read More »

Putnam County Commissioners approved a grant application to add soccer fields and a new entrance at the County Soccer Complex. With several dozen youth soccer players in the audience, commissioners voted unanimously Monday night to seek the state grant. The grant includes a 50 percent county match, already reserved in the general fund for the project. The county must apply ... Read More »

The Cumberland County Commissioners voted Monday night to work toward funding four new school resource officers. Commissioners added the item to the agenda Monday in hopes of getting the process started toward hiring four SROs for the elementary schools in the county. Cumberland County currently funds four resource officers to work across eight schools. After discussion, commissioners decided to send ... Read More »

The Tennessee Supreme Court has refused to hear the appeal of a Warren County man facing 153 years in prison for the rape of a child. The court ruled Friday it would not hear the case of John David Smartt, convicted on 12 counts involving sexual relations with a child beginning at the age of four. Smartt sentenced in April ... Read More »

The Dekalb and Smith County Anti-Drug Coalitions will gather the local medical community and concerned citizens to discuss the state’s opioid epidemic Tuesday. Dekalb Coalition Coordinator Lisa Cripps said the meeting hopes to answer questions. “Anyone that would be interested in learning more and helping be part of the solution,” Cripps said. Cripps said those in the medical community, including ... Read More »