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Area News

Second Harvest Meets Community Needs

Second Harvest Meets Community Needs By Shane Gilreath [email protected] The sight of people waiting in line at Bethlehem Baptist Church has become commonplace across Scott County. Those lines signal both significant need, as well as the hearts to meet the necessities of neighbors. A recent poll from East Tennessee State University indicated one in four…

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Tennessee Guardsmen respond to East Tennessee wildfires

Tennessee Guardsmen respond to East Tennessee wildfires KNOXVILLE – At the request of the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency, the  Tennessee Army National Guard is providing two UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters, from Knoxville’s 1-230th Assault Helicopter Battalion, to support wildfire response in Mountain City. The Tennessee National Guard was notified of the request around 9:00 a.m. CST,…

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Government efficiency bill passes committee

Government efficiency bill passes committee In an effort to increase efficiency in government, the Senate Government Operations unanimously passed Senate Bill 1316 which seeks to establish the Less is More Act of 2025. This bill makes various changes to regulatory boards to cut red tape, limiting government involvement. I was honored to carry this bill…

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Sen. Yager meets with Tennessee Road Builders Association

Sen. Yager meets with Tennessee Road Builders Association   (NASHVILLE) On Wednesday, March 5, Senator Ken Yager (R-Kingston) visited with the Tennessee Road Builders Association to discuss important issues impacting the state. In the photo above from left to right: Seated: Kevin Ray, Sen. Yager, Nick Davis; Row 1: Ben Vongsamphanh, Wes Stowers, David Stansell, Susie…

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Bill to Clear Homeless Encampments Passes Tennessee Senate

Bill to Clear Homeless Encampments Passes Tennessee Senate Local governments could clear encampments with 30 days’ notice and get rid of personal property in just 10 days if the bill passes the House By Sarah Grace Taylor A bill that could set deadlines on homeless encampment clearings and the disposal of people’s personal belongings passed…

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Tennessee District Attorneys Adopt Resolution in Support of Constitutional Amendment Regarding Bail For Violent Offenders

Tennessee District Attorneys Adopt Resolution in Support of Constitutional Amendment Regarding Bail For Violent Offenders District Attorneys support removing the right to bail for certain violent and heinous offenses DAVIDSON COUNTY – On Friday, March 14th, the Executive Committee for the Tennessee District Attorneys General Conference adopted a resolution to endorse, support, and encourage the passage…

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Tennessee coalition celebrates 20 years of Sunshine Week, promoting government transparency

Tennessee coalition celebrates 20 years of Sunshine Week, promoting government transparency This year marks the 20th anniversary of Sunshine Week celebrated nationally to promote the importance of open government at the federal, state and local levels. The idea was born more than 20 years ago when Florida newspaper editors started Sunshine Sunday to highlight the…

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Winfield man leads police on wild chase

Winfield man leads police on wild chase By Shane Gilreath [email protected] A Winfield man caused quite a commotion on I-40 when Cocke County Sheriff’s Department K-9 Deputy Ethan Valentine encountered a 2002 Infiniti driving erratically near the 434-mile marker. Valentine’s observance quickly spun into a dangerous police chase.   According to reports filed of the…

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Disturbing Details emerge from Preliminary Hearing in Child’s Death

Disturbing Details emerge from Preliminary Hearing in Child’s Death   By Shane Gilreath [email protected] (WARNING: This story contains graphic and troubling details) A crowded McCreary County courtroom was somber on Thursday for the preliminary hearing of two suspects in the death of 14-year-old Austin Carpenter. With courthouse security on alert in lieu of community ire, the graphic,…

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Details emerge of missing woman

Details emerge of missing woman By Shane Gilreath [email protected] New details have emerged in the case of Megan Raymond, the Clarksville woman whose body was found in a shallow grave in Scott County.  The ordeal began when Clarksville Police conducted a February 27 welfare check at Raymond’s home following a request from a concerned friend,…

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