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U.S. Representative John Rose representing Tennessee’s 6^th District recently joined three other House Members in introducing the Neighborhood Options for Patients Buying Medicines (NO PBMs) Act. The legislation would improve options and access to prescription drugs for seniors, bring pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) in alignment with Medicare plans, and ultimately allow seniors to shop at their local pharmacy.

The bill would also modernize Medicare and prevent PBMs from discriminating against pharmacies that are willing to contract with them, helping seniors to seek care closer to home. Under Medicare Part D, plan sponsors are required to (i) have standard terms and conditions that are “reasonable and relevant” and (ii) allow any pharmacy willing to accept the terms and conditions to participate in the sponsor’s network. This bill would explicitly ensure that PBMs are required to comply with this standard, bringing them in line with plan sponsors.

“Independent pharmacies are integral to the health care needs of rural communities in Tennessee and across the country,” said Rep. Rose. “We should protect them by holding PBMs accountable. I am proud to support this bipartisan, commonsense legislation on behalf of Tennessee’s independent pharmacists and patients.”

The NO PBMs Act is supported by the National Community Pharmacists Association, American Pharmacists Association, National Association of Specialty Pharmacy, and the American Pharmacy Cooperative, Inc.

“Every day across the country, pharmacy patients get letters from their PBMs telling them that they have to start using a PBM-owned pharmacy. Or they get a letter stating that their current pharmacy is no longer ‘preferred’ in the plan network,” said American Pharmacies President Laird Leavoy. “The letters often imply that scripts may no longer be filled at non-PBM pharmacies. It’s alarming and confusing to older patients, who out of fear often switch their business to the PBM’s pharmacy. Steering is a conflict of interest that decreases transparency and competition in the pharmacy services market. It drives up pharmacy care costs while harming patient care, especially in rural and medically underserved areas.

The Tennessee Highway Safety Office (THSO) has announced $28.5 million in federal grant funds to be distributed statewide from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for the 2023–2024 federal fiscal year.

Locally four grants have been announced:

Cannon County Sheriff’s Department High Visibility Enforcement of Tennessee Traffic Safety Laws $5,000.00

Level One Accountability, LLC. TN‐HERT 2.0 $ 33,345.00 – training for first responders

Woodbury Police Department Enforcement of Tennessee Driving Under the Influence Laws 20,000.00

Tennessee District Attorney General, 16th Judicial District (which includes Cannon County) awarded Driving Under the Influence Prosecution $ 212,092.22.

“The THSO is pleased to announce the allocation of federal grant funds to support our traffic safety partners across Tennessee,” said Tennessee Highway Safety Office Director Buddy Lewis. “These funds will be used to increase traffic safety education, public awareness, advocacy, training, and enforcement initiatives to improve driver behavior and protect Tennessee roadways. These partnerships are essential to saving lives and reducing traffic fatalities across Tennessee.”

Over 370 federal grants exceeding $28 million in total have been awarded to law enforcement agencies and highway safety partners across Tennessee. Approximately $3 million in media grant funds will be allocated for statewide highway safety education and public awareness campaigns.

Every year, traffic safety advocates, non-profit organizations, emergency response personnel, law enforcement, district attorneys general, and other state agencies across Tennessee seek funding through grant applications offered by the THSO. Applicants who meet the required data-driven criteria and highway safety standards are awarded grant funds to support the THSO’s mission to reduce traffic crashes, injuries, and fatalities.

Cannon County Elementary School Patriot’s Day Art Winners Woodbury, TN– Cannon County Elementary School announces the winners of the Patriot’s Day Art contest.

Winners are as follows: (left to right) CCES Art teacher, Abby Manns, 2nd Place winner, Memphis Smith, 1st Place Winner Emily Guffey, and 3rd Place Winner Evelyn Wilcher.

The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) mobile household hazardous waste collection service will be in Coffee and Montgomery counties on Saturday, September 23.

Tennesseans are encouraged to bring household hazardous waste – including cleaning fluids, pesticides, swimming pool chemicals and more – to a designated drop-off location. A person does not need to live in the county to participate.

The drop-off location closest to Cannon County is Coffee County – Tullahoma Public Works, 942 Maplewood Ave. Tullahoma, 8 a.m.-1 p.m. the contact is Melissa Burton at (931) 723-5139.

“We are pleased to provide this opportunity to dispose of household hazardous waste properly,” Commissioner David Salyers of the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation said. “We want to make it as convenient as possible for Tennesseans to demonstrate their commitment to protecting the environment.”

Since the program’s inception in 1993, more than 370,000 Tennessee households have properly disposed of more than 24 million pounds of material. There have been over 1,450 one-day collection events.

Household hazardous waste materials are considered flammable, toxic, reactive and/or corrosive and should not be placed with regular garbage. Typical items to dispose of include cleaning fluids, pesticides, mercury thermometers and thermostats, fluorescent lamps, lithium and button batteries, aerosols, adhesives, medications, brake fluid, swimming pool chemicals, paint thinner and used needles in sturdy containers. Items not accepted include ammunition, explosives, alkaline batteries, paint, electronics, and any empty containers that should be disposed in normal trash. There is no cost or appointment necessary for household hazardous waste collection.

While household waste may be disposed for free, there is a cost for disposal of Very Small Quantity Generator Waste (i.e. wastes from non-household sources such as businesses, schools, farms, churches, etc.). An appointment is also necessary. Call (615) 643-3170 to request a price quote and schedule an appointment.

Many counties and municipalities meet the needs of local residents by providing collection of batteries, oil, paint, antifreeze and electronic scrap – or BOPAE, as it is sometimes called. When handled correctly, these BOPAE materials are minimally hazardous, but inappropriate for collection at household hazardous waste events. Tennesseans are encouraged to contact their local city or county solid waste department to find BOPAE collection sites in their area.

When transporting materials to the site, place containers in sturdy boxes lined with newspaper or plastic to prevent spills and cross-contamination in the trunk of a car or back of a truck. Be sure to keep materials away from children and pets.

For more information on the household hazardous waste mobile collection service, please call 800-287-9013 or visit this TDEC link.

This week, September 18th – 23rd, the Tennessee Highway Safety Office (THSO) is promoting National Child Passenger Safety Week, encouraging citizens to participate in National Seat Check Saturday on September 23rd. Tennesseans interested in participating should visit www.CarSeatSafety.kids to find nearby fitting stations and search for local car seat check events.

“Motor vehicle crashes are a leading cause of death for children in America,” said THSO Director Buddy Lewis. “Anyone traveling with a child in the vehicle should feel confident that child is properly restrained. If you are in doubt, please visit a local fitting station to learn safety tips and access certified child passenger safety technicians.”

According to the National Safety Council:

• 58 percent of rear-facing car seats are installed incorrectly.
• 78 percent of forward-facing car seats are installed incorrectly.
• 90 percent of children using lap-and-shoulder belts should still be in a forward-facing car seat or booster seat.
• Three most common car seat mistakes include loose installation, loose harness straps, or not using the tether.

“The best way to ensure your child is safe is to find a car seat that fits your child, fits the vehicle, and can be used correctly every time,” said Julie Brewer, Tennessee Child Passenger Safety State Coordinator. “By visiting www.CarSeatSafety.kids, parents and caregivers across Tennessee can search for local resources. More events are being added daily. If you don’t see an event in your area, check the map and call the local fitting station to see if they are accepting appointments.”

For more information, please visit www.CarSeatSafety.kids or www.TNTrafficSafety.org/cps.  Locally Travis Dunavant with the Cannon County Sheriff’s Office is the person to see with your questions. He can be reached at 615‐563‐1000.

The annual Hometown Huddle food drive is a community-powered initiative.The three-day event will be held at Patterson Park Community Center and consists of two components: The Collection Intake Days will be held Tuesday, September 19^th, from 1:30 p.m.- 4:30 p.m. and Wednesday, September 20^th, from 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. The Sort-a-Thon will be on Thursday, September 21^st, from 9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.

Hometown Huddle is a United Way of Rutherford and Cannon Counties event that provides nutritious meals for local students during school breaks. Last year, with the help of our community and more than 80 volunteers, we distributed nearly 500 bags to Cannon County Schools, Murfreesboro City Schools, and Rutherford County Schools.

Jessica Johnson, ATLAS Liaison for Rutherford County Schools, shared the impact Hometown Huddle makes on students and families. “Last year, the ATLAS Program enrolled and assisted 1637 students. We send weekend food home each weekend and offer food boxes to our families during extended breaks. We averaged over 100 boxes of food delivered to families with over 200 given to our families during spring break. Our grant does not provide for food to be given over breaks or snacks. If not for Hometown Huddle, we would not have the food to provide for our students during fall break.”

This year, we want to help more students have access to meals during fall break. Items collected can be dropped off at a variety of collection sites in the community, available at yourlocaluw.org/hometownhuddle. You can help by purchasing the following items:

• Cereal/oatmeal – single-serve packs
• Hormel Compleats
• Fruit snacks
• Granola bars
• Juice boxes
• Microwavable mac and cheese
• Peanut butter
• Reusable water bottles
• Rice Krispy Treats/other individually packaged treats
• Individual Pop Tarts packs
• Jello and pudding cups
• Microwavable single-serve soup
• Tuna/Chicken packets

Director of Engagement and Volunteerism, Kara Carpenter shared how Hometown Huddle impacts the community, “Hometown Huddle is a great example of how your donations make a swift, direct impact on the students here in Rutherford and Cannon Counties.  Your food donations go straight into bags that are given to our students who have been identified as food insecure by their school system.  This year, our bags are being distributed to these students to take home with them for fall break.”

Our Hometown Huddle 2023 sponsors include Taylor Farms, Ascend Federal Credit Union, Murfreesboro Parks and Recreation, Murfreesboro Water Resources Department, Publix Super Markets and Publix Super Market Charities, Regions Bank, and Wilson Bank & Trust.

For more information about how you can support Hometown Huddle, please visit, https://www.yourlocaluw.org/hometownhuddle

Today, Governor Bill Lee announced that applications are now open for the Tennessee Strong Families Grant Program, which dedicates $20 million to improve access to maternal healthcare and boost critical resources for mothers, children and families by supporting local nonprofits across the state, including pregnancy centers. 

“Being pro-life is much more than protecting the lives of the unborn – it’s also about protecting the dignity of every human being,” Lee said. “Strong families are central to strong communities, and we’re proud to partner with the General Assembly to prioritize resources for local partners that serve Tennesseans in need. We welcome any Tennessee organization that serves expecting mothers and families to apply for these critical grant funds.”  

In the state’s FY23-24 budget, the Governor and General Assembly funded $20 million to create the Strong Families Grant Program and provide the opportunity for nonprofit organizations, including pregnancy centers, to partner with the state to provide support based on the unique needs of the mothers, children and families they serve. Examples of these services include: 

• Direct services for pregnancy support, which can include medical, mental health or other counseling services.    
• Support for Tennesseans who are considering adoption.   
• Workforce assistance to prepare new moms for self-sufficiency.  
• Housing assistance to help moms in crisis find a safe and stable place to live.  
• Additional wraparound services to support vulnerable mothers and their children. 

Application materials for the grants are available online where applicants may view webinars and access training and technical assistance.  

The grant program is just one facet of the Governor’s Strong Tennessee Families initiative, which dedicated a historic investment of more than $600 million in the State’s FY23-24 budget.   

The Tennessee Departments of Health, Children’s Services and Human Services worked alongside the Family Advocacy Unit in the Department of Finance and Administration to gather input from stakeholders through a pregnancy needs assessment survey. These agencies form a planning committee that informs the grant program. The Office of Criminal Justice Programs in the Department of Finance and Administration will administer the grants, because of their expertise in issuing and overseeing grants to non-profit organizations.  

TDEC Announces Additional $63 Million in Water Infrastructure Improvement

The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) today announced 20 grants totaling $63,888,650 from the state’s American Rescue Plan (ARP) fund, part of which TDEC is administering in the form of drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater infrastructure grants. 

Cannon County – $3,872,667
Cannon County, in collaboration with the Town of Woodbury, will use ARP funds to address critical drinking water needs. Cannon’s drinking water projects include the replacement of aged water lines with PVC water main lines, the installation of new pressure regulation stations to connect to pressure zones in the system, and connection of the system with the Warren County Utility District.

Since August 2022, TDEC has awarded and announced $996 million in executed grant funds representing every county and 248 cities through ARP programming, and today’s announced grants mark the conclusion of the award phase of the non-competitive grant program. 

Of the 20 grants announced today, two are collaborative grants and 18 are non-collaborative grants. Collaborative grants involve multiple entities (cities, counties, or water utilities) partnering on projects to work toward a shared purpose. The non-competitive grant program will fund a total of 266 non-collaborative grants and 71 collaborative grants. The non-competitive grant program has been a success, funding over 1,000 individual drinking water, wastewater, and/or stormwater infrastructure projects. 

Tennessee received $3.725 billion from the ARP, and the state’s Financial Stimulus Accountability Group dedicated $1.35 billion of those funds to TDEC to support water projects in communities throughout Tennessee. Of the $1.35 billion, approximately $1 billion was designated for non-competitive formula-based grants offered to counties and eligible cities to address systems’ critical needs. The remaining funds will go to state-initiated projects and competitive grants. 

A Murfreesboro woman faces charges of Financial Exploitation and Theft following an investigation by special agents assigned to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation’s Medicaid Fraud Control Division.

In early May, agents began investigating allegations surrounding Teresa Ann Smith (DOB 4/14/1962), a paid caregiver, after receiving information from the Tennessee Department of Human Services. During the investigation, agents learned Smith, instructed an elderly, vulnerable man in her care to withdraw money from his bank account for her benefit, and additionally used the victim’s debit card for unauthorized purchases.

On Wednesday of last week, agents secured warrants charging Smith with one count each of Financial Exploitation of a Vulnerable Adult and Theft. Agents subsequently arrested Smith and booked her into the Rutherford County Jail on $35,000 bond.

In the last few months, National Beta member, Whitleigh Cossey, has worked hard to prepare for the National Beta Convention. In June, she celebrated that hard work when she was announced as a winner of the following competition: Performing Arts- Solo Vocalist- third place.

Cannon South Elementary Beta Club member Whitleigh Cossey, initially competed and received second place during the State Convention held in November. Her successat the state level provided an opportunity to compete at the national level. The National Convention, held in Louisville, KY, provided all students the opportunity to compete. Over 5,000 Elementary Beta (grades 4-5), 8,000 Junior Beta (grades 6-8), and 7,900 Senior Beta (grades 9-12) students were able to represent their schools this summer.

Whitleigh Cossey placed third in the Performing Arts- Solo Vocalist category at the National Convention.  We are very proud of how well she represented Cannon South Elementary at the National level.  Cannon South Beta Club Head Sponsor, Jordan Anderson, states, “Our school and club are so proud of Whitleigh. She worked extremely hard practicing and making her performance the best it could be! It takes a lot of courage to get up in front of judges and perform! It took even more than that when she performed in front of all of Tennessee’s Beta members and then the nation’s Beta members! I cannot express how honored I am to have been her sponsor. She made this first-time lead sponsor so proud! I cannot wait to see what she does for BETA in years to come!”

About National Beta

With more than 500,000 active members and 8,750 clubs nationally and internationally, National Beta has become the nation’s largest independent, non-profit, educational youth organization. National Beta promotes the ideals of academic achievement, character, service, and leadership among elementary and secondary school students. National Elementary Beta includes grades 4-5, National Junior Beta includes 6-8, and National Senior Beta includes grades 9-12. Visit betaclub.org for more information.