CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — A fire official says two people have died in a house fire in Tennessee. Clarksville Fire Chief Ricky Cumberland told media that the blaze was reported Tuesday morning at a home in the city, which is about 50 miles (80 kilometers) northwest of Nashville. He says two adults died in the fire. No further details were immediately available... more

From staff reports Lewisburg Police officers responded to Dirt Cheap on Dec. 14 after a report of a disorderly person. Arriving on scene, officers reported witnessing Heather Pierce Heavner “yelling and making racial slurs at an African-American employee.”... more

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Dangerously cold temperatures blamed for at least nine deaths have wreaked havoc across a wide swath of the U.S., freezing a water tower in Iowa, halting ferry service in New York and leading officials to open warming centers even in the Deep South... more

NASHVILLE – Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam and Department of Labor and Workforce Development (TDLWD) Commissioner Burns Phillips today announced unemployment rates in November remained low across the state and the vast majority of Tennessee counties continue to experience rates below 5 percent... more

2017 has passed with incredible speed! Significant change has occurred in our City. Thankfully the change and growth has been steady, but not too explosive. Just a few years ago (2010) our unemployment rate was 20.7%, today it is 2.7%. This is a decrease of nearly 8 times of what it was in 2010. ... more

Every year in November, Americans all across the nation come together in solemn remembrance of those brave military veterans who have fought for our country in conflicts far and wide. In gatherings big and small, ceremonies are held in honor of our veterans. One such ceremony was held at Veteran’s Park in Chapel Hill on Saturday, November 11, 2017, and the local Scouting groups were honored to attend... more

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — “Nashville” survived one previous cancellation, but the final curtain call is coming for the TV melodrama about the trials and tribulations of country music stars. Lionsgate announced in November that after 120 episodes, the time had come for the series to end. The sixth and final season premieres Jan. 4 on CMT. It will air in two parts, with the finale coming this summer... more

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey has announced it’s planning a distillery, tasting room and music venue for the historic Tennessee Walking Horse farm and event center, Sand Creek, in Shelbyville, Tenn. “We look forward to continuing to work with our Tennessee distillery partners to create and bottle our award-winning premium whiskey; but as the brand continues to grow and excitement around Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey increases, we need to be prepared to keep up with the demand,” said Sherrie Moore, a 31-year veteran in the Tennessee whiskey industry and director of whiskey operations for Uncle Nearest.. ... more

NASHVILLE – The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation released a report detailing the nature and volume of reported firearms-related crime across the state over a four-year period. The report, “Firearm Violence in Tennessee: 2013-2016,” utilizes data submitted by the state’s law enforcement agencies through the Tennessee Incident Based Reporting System (TIBRS). Among the report’s findings:... more

The Twelve Annual Middle Tennessee Grain Conference is set for Tuesday, January 30th at the Coffee County Fairgrounds in Manchester. The conference will offer farmers insights to a number of emerging corn, soybean, and wheat production concerns. According to the 2017 conference evaluation survey, 146 farmers from twenty-five Middle and East Tennessee counties and two adjoining states cited the Middle Tennessee Grain Conference as an excellent source of information addressing pertinent crop production topics.. ... more

NASHVILLE– The Tennessee Department of Agriculture (TDA) is proposing new rules and requirements for use of herbicides containing dicamba in the commercial production of cotton and soybeans. TDA is seeking approval from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for a Special Local Needs [24(c)] label to further restrict use of new formulation products in Tennessee including BASF’s Engenia, Monsanto’s XtendiMax and Dupont’s FeXapan... more

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (AP) — The company in a deadly November 2016 school bus crash in Tennessee has settled a lawsuit for $323,000 on behalf of a 9-year-old boy injured in the wreck. According to the Chattanooga Times Free Press, Durham School Services will pay $250,000, plus $73,000 in medical expenses, to the boy who suffered a concussion, a broken arm, cuts to his liver and permanent scarring on his arms... more

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Officials say Tennesseans that participated in a national prescription drug disposal initiative turned in a record number of unwanted or expired medications. The Drug Enforcement Administration said in a November news release that Tennesseans turned in more than 68,000 pounds (30,845 kilograms) of unwanted or expired medications during the DEA’s 14th National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day Initiative on Oct. ... more

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Republican Gov. Bill Haslam is considering reducing the number of trustees at the University of Tennessee. The Nashville Ledger reports Lt. Gov. Randy McNally says Haslam’s proposals include reducing the size of the university’s board and reducing the number of finalists presented for top leadership positions... more

Make a New Year’s resolution to hike at a Tennessee State Park on Jan. 1. Fifty-five state parks will offer a free, guided hike as part of the annual nationwide ‘First Day Hikes’ event. “From midnight hikes to historical tours to kayak paddles, Tennessee State Parks offer a unique activity for every outdoor enthusiast,” said Brock Hill, deputy commissioner of parks and conservation at the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation. ... more

New Years Day generally means a day on the couch watching hours of college football. Jan. 1 also marks the day that several laws passed during the last session of the Tennessee General Assembly go into effect. Sixteen new laws, or changes to existing statutes, take effect at the start of the year, ranging from tweaks to laws with limited impact to others with wider general impact... more

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — U.S. Rep. Diane Black announced Wednesday that she is stepping down as House Budget Committee chairwoman, but will remain in Congress as she runs for governor of Tennessee. The Republican’s decision follows passage of a wide-spanning tax reform law that she and her committee helped usher through the legislative process. She said she plans to leave the budget leadership post once a successor is chosen in the new year so she can focus more on the campaign... more

For many families, the tradition of making a gingerbread house is a favorite pastime during the holiday season. While decorating and deciding what type of candy and what color icing to outline the roof of the gingerbread house, families share ideas and make memories that last a lifetime, as well as work together as a team... more

The state recognized a Lewisburg manufacturer this month for a commitment to safety that has spanned years. Steve Hawkins, assistant commissioner with the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development responsible for the Tennessee Occupational Safety and Health Administration, presented the safety team at WestRock with a Tennessee STAR award at their Garrett Parkway plant... more