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House Speaker Cameron Sexton leading legislation this session that improves transparency and truth in sentencing. Criminals would serve 100 percent of sentences for an additional 14 violent offenses. Sexton said parole will also not be possible. “We’re going to look at truth in sentencing again for aggravated, especially aggravated crimes and second-degree murder,” Sexton said. “As always, there’s certain crimes ... Read More »

Tennessee Tech currently fundraising for scholarships and programs in a yearly initiative directly impacting students. Alumni Center Assistant Director Kelly Chambers said each year, the “I ❤️ Tech students” program begins on February 14th. Chambers said over the next six weeks, the university invites the community to show its love for students. “We really focus on putting students first,” Chambers ... Read More »

Putnam Schools Director Corby King is “cautiously optimistic” about the new school funding formula announced Thursday. King said his main takeaway is that the state is keeping the focus on the students. He said that if everything goes through as projected, the initial increase could bring some $14 million for Putnam County Schools. “We’ve had a needs for a long ... Read More »

Friday and Saturday is the last chance to purchase tickets for the Sparta White County Volunteer Rescue Squad Father Daughter Dance. The annual event comes March 5th at the White County Agricultural Building. Assistant Chief Charlie Tollison said this year’s theme is a 50’s night sock hop. “It gives an opportunity and a chance for fathers and daughters to get ... Read More »

A Crossville business owner faces felony charges of theft and tax evasion after a state investigation. 67-year-old Edith Benson Arnold was indicted after the Tennessee Department of Revenue found she failed to remit sales tax collected from customers. Arnold also allegedly underreported sales at the Mega-Bytes Internet Café and Lounge. She is charged with a class C felony of theft ... Read More »

Majority of impassable roads across the Upper Cumberland due to flooding now clear as waters receded Friday morning. DeKalb County Road Supervisor Danny Hale said the Possom Hollow and Vickers Hollow areas has water covering the roads. Hale said the roadways are now safe to pass. Putnam County had precautionary barrels set around floodwaters on Burgess School Road and Ditty ... Read More »

The State Court of Appeals denied a Clay County man’s appeal of a conviction on weapons charges. A Clay County jury found William Isaac Atwood guilty of possession of a prohibited weapon and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Clay County deputies found a sawed-off shotgun during a 2018 search of Atwood’s home. He was sentenced to 13 ... Read More »

Jackson County Director of Schools Kristy Brown saw one of her biggest wants addressed in the new proposed school funding model. Brown said that as a member of the rural school districts subcommittee, it was important to her to see a district’s ruralness acknowledged and factored into the budget. “They have basically a five percent additional weight for each student ... Read More »

Algood has secured the needed easement to create a second entrance to Walmart. City Administrator Keith Morrison said the proposed project would extend Big Mac Drive attaching a roadway to the back end of the parking lot. “We’re working on our permitting with TDEC,” Morrison said. “Once those permits are final and approved and issued, then we’ll have a project ... Read More »

Putnam County 911 Director Penny Foister wants more dispatcher positions budgeted in the next fiscal year. Foister said she would like to see two additional positions, one paid by the county. The other paid by the 911 department. “That will make our power shift where we got two positions last year those dispatchers work from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.,” ... Read More »