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As students across Tennessee are gearing up to head back to school, AAA is reminding drivers to stay alert and avoid unsafe driving behaviors in school zones and at school bus stops. This time of year is particularly dangerous due to the combination of young, inexperienced drivers, pedestrians and bicyclists who will all share the road in the early morning and afternoon hours.

“School zones and bus stops can become risky and dangerous places for students if safety is not kept top of mind. That’s why the AAA School’s Open – Drive Carefully awareness campaign was created — to remind drivers of the unique challenges present in the early days of the back-to-school season,” said Stephanie Milani, Tennessee Public Affairs Director, AAA – The Auto Club Group. “Our goal is to educate and remind drivers of the need to curb unsafe driving behaviors, slow down and stay alert in areas where children may be present.”

A new survey from AAA found that over half of Tennesseans’ daily commutes take them through either school zones or school bus stops, yet only 76% of residents felt very confident that they knew the laws for passing a school bus when its red flashing lights are activated.

Alarmingly, 5% of residents were not at all confident they knew the laws for passing a school bus. 14% of respondents admitted to driving around a school bus while its red lights were flashing and its stop arm was extended.

The survey also found that drivers admitted to risky driving behaviors when driving through school zones:

• 42% admitted to speeding in an active school zone.
• 32% admitted to using their hand-held cell phone while driving in active school zones.

“When driving through a school zone, it’s extremely important that you lower your speed and raise your awareness to ensure you can respond to any potential hazards,” Milani continued. “Remember, in Tennessee it is illegal to use your handheld mobile device while driving through an active school zone.”

Top AAA Safety Tips for Drivers

• Slow down. Speed limits in school zones are reduced for a reason. A pedestrian struck by a vehicle traveling at 25 mph is nearly two-thirds less likely to be killed compared to a pedestrian struck by a vehicle traveling just 10 mph faster.
• Come to a complete stop. Research shows that more than one-third of drivers roll through stop signs in school zones or neighborhoods. Always come to a complete stop, checking carefully for children on sidewalks and in crosswalks before proceeding.
• Eliminate distractions. Research shows that taking your eyes off the road for just two seconds doubles your chances of crashing.
• Share the road with bicyclists. Children on bicycles are often unsteady, inexperienced, and unpredictable. Slow down and allow at least three feet of passing distance between your vehicle and a bicyclist.
• Talk to your teen. Car crashes are one of the leading causes of death for teens in the United States, and nearly one in four fatal crashes involving teen drivers occurs during the after-school hours of 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Top AAA Safety Tips for Students

For Pedestrians

• Pay attention at all times. Avoid texting or wearing headphones, so you can detect nearby traffic.  
• Use sidewalks where available. If not, walk against the direction of traffic so you can see oncoming vehicles.
• Make yourself easier to be seen by wearing reflective, bright colored clothing.

For Bicyclists

• Wear a helmet and neon or bright colored clothes.
• Ride in the same direction as traffic and stay as far to the right as possible. Use bike lanes when you can.
• Do not wear headphones so you can detect approaching traffic.
• Cross the street at intersections. Do not pull into the roadway from between parked cars.

For Students at the Bus Stop

• Arrive at least 5 minutes before the bus is scheduled to arrive.
• Stay five steps away from the curb/road.
• Be alert and remove headphones so you can hear oncoming traffic.
• Wait until the bus comes to a complete stop and the bus driver signals for you to board.

Today, Tennessee Governor Bill Lee issued the special session proclamation and presented the administration’s legislative and budget priorities that will go before the Tennessee General Assembly during the special session on public safety, convening August 21.

“As our nation faces evolving public safety threats, Tennessee remains vigilant and is taking continued action to protect communities while preserving the constitutional rights of law-abiding citizens,” said Gov. Bill Lee. “In the months leading up to the public safety special session, we have listened to Tennesseans and worked with members of the General Assembly to identify thoughtful, practical measures to strengthen public safety across our state, including steps to support law enforcement, address mental health, prevent violent crime and stop human trafficking. I thank the General Assembly for its continued partnership and look forward to achieving meaningful results for Tennesseans.”

Gov. Lee will present legislative and budget priorities during the public safety special session to keep Tennessee communities safe, support law enforcement and address mental health, all while preserving constitutional rights. In addition to bringing the following solutions in the administration package, the Governor will continue to work with members of the General Assembly on other legislation specified in the call.

1. Codification of EO 100 and Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) Report Implementation: Requires reporting of accurate, complete and timely records from court clerks to the TBI within 72-hours and requires electronic submissions of dispositions and expungements to the TBI

2. TennCare Mental Health Coverage Waiver: Directs TennCare to seek a waiver from the federal government to allow federal matching funds for Medicaid to cover services for mental illness and substance use disorders at institutions of mental diseases

3. Addressing Mental Health Workforce Challenges: Budget initiatives that prioritize opportunities to grow and retain mental health professionals in the state

4. Reforms for Mental Health: Expands access to mental health treatment by eliminating certain collaborative practice requirements for Advanced Registered Practice Nurses with psychiatric training

5. Strengthening the Identification of Individuals Arrested for Felonies: Provides for the collection of DNA at the time of an arrest for all felonies

6. Human Trafficking Report: Resolution directing TBI to report on the state of human trafficking in Tennessee

7. Promoting Safe Storage: Eliminates taxes on firearm safes and safety devices, provides free gun locks, expands safe storage training in state-approved safety courses, and creates a public service announcement to promote safe storage

To date, more than 20,000 Tennesseans have submitted public comments on strengthening public safety, and the form will remain open through the entirety of the special session to ensure that Tennesseans can continue engaging in the conversation.

The consideration of a “red flag” law mentioned by the Governor earlier in the planning for the special session is missing from the agenda.

The full special session proclamation can be viewed here.

There isn’t a better way to support your local farms and community than by shopping at a farmers market. Tennessee will highlight peak season during National Farmers Market Week Aug. 6-12, 2023.

The Tennessee Department of Agriculture’s Pick Tennessee Products program will celebrate National Farmers Market Week with social media highlights from markets across the state using the hashtag #PickTNFarmersMarkets. The Agriculture Department encourages you to use #PickTNFarmersMarkets when sharing your farmers market photos online.

“Farmers markets play a pivotal role in fostering community connections and driving positive impacts across not only the state of Tennessee, but across the globe, ”President of Tennessee Association of Farmers Markets Kasi Haire said. “These vibrant marketplaces not only provide fresh and locally-sourced produce but also serve as a hub for cultural exchange, supporting local economies, and promoting sustainable practices.”

Pick Tennessee Products is the perfect connection to a farmers market near you. There are currently 167 farmers markets listed on the Pick Tennessee Products website and mobile app. Cannon County’s Farmers Market is Saturday morning at the Arts Center of Cannon County on John Bragg Highway in Woodbury.

Follow @PickTNProducts on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for seasonal updates and information about farm-related events, activities, and products.

An investigation by special agents with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation into allegations of sexual battery against a juvenile has resulted in the indictment and arrest of a now-former Rutherford County corrections officer.

At the request of 16th Judicial District Attorney General Jennings Jones, on July 16^th, agents began investigating allegations that Clifford Carr had sexual contact with a juvenile victim who was less than 13 years old. The investigation revealed that on July 12^th and 13^th, at the time he was still a corrections officer, Carr exposed himself to the victim, and displayed sexual activity to the victim. Carr is no longer employed by Rutherford County.

On July 31^st, the Cannon County Grand Jury returned indictments charging Clifford Ryan Carr with one count each of Aggravated Sexual Battery, Sexual Contact with a Minor by an Authority Figure, Solicitation of Sexual Exploitation of a Minor, Sexual Battery by an Authority Figure, and Indecent Exposure. Carr was arrested and booked into the Cannon County Jail on a $100,000 bond.

An investigation by special agents with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation into allegations of sexual battery against a juvenile has resulted in the indictment and arrest of a Woodbury police officer.

At the request of 16th Judicial District Attorney General Jennings Jones, on July 18^th, agents began investigating allegations involving Tommie Lee House. The investigation revealed that, earlier this year, House solicited an exploitive image from the juvenile victim and, on a separate occasion, had sexual contact with the victim while on duty. The department decommissioned House when the allegations surfaced and placed him on administrative leave.

On July 31^st, the Cannon County Grand Jury returned indictments, charging House with one count each of Solicitation of Sexual Exploitation of a Minor, Especially Aggravated Sexual Exploitation of a Minor, Aggravated Sexual Battery, Sexual Battery by an Authority Figure, and Official Misconduct. Authorities arrested House and booked him into the Cannon County Jail on a $75,000 bond.

“It’s time.” After 35 years of representing clients from his office on the Murfreesboro Square, Terry Fann announced today that he is seeking the appointment by Governor Lee for Circuit Court Judge.

If appointed, he will fill the vacancy of retiring Circuit Court Judge J. Mark Rogers.

Over the past three and-a-half decades, Fann has handled thousands of cases, both civil and criminal, gaining invaluable experience which will allow him to quickly transition to the role of judge.

“I have enjoyed a challenging and rewarding career representing the citizens of Rutherford and Cannon Counties, and now, I am prepared to take the next step.”

Fann has tried numerous cases in the Circuit and Chancery Courts in a majority of Middle Tennessee counties, as well as in the Federal District Courts in Middle and East Tennessee. He has represented clients before the Tennessee Court of Appeals, Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals, 6th Circuit Federal Court of Appeals in Cincinnati, Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board, Tennessee Supreme Court Workers’ Compensation Panel, and Tennessee Claims Commission.

“There is no substitute for experience and the wisdom that comes with it. By representing individuals in a variety of cases, I have learned the law must always be impartial. I have the demeanor, temperament, and overall experience to serve our citizens as their next Circuit Judge.”

Fann graduated from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, with a Bachelor’s degree in Agriculture, and worked for the Murfreesboro Production Credit Association for two years before deciding to attend law school. He obtained his Juris Doctor degree from the Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law at the University of Memphis.

Since 1988, he has practiced with his long-time law partner, Steve Waldron, at their office on the corner of Maple and West Main Streets.

Fann is well-respected by his colleagues and clients for his knowledge of the law, experience in the courtroom, high ethics, and common sense.

“My parents instilled in me a strong work ethic and taught me to do be respectful, dependable, responsible, and compassionate. These fundamental principles have served me well.

For 20 years, he has volunteered as legal counsel for the Child Advocacy Center, serving on the Board of Directors and holding the offices of President and Vice-President. Fann will seek election next year to complete the full term of retiring Judge Rogers. “Rutherford and Cannon Counties deserve a judge who will maintain the integrity and excellent reputation our local judges have enjoyed for decades. I am the person for the job.”

He and his wife, the former Vicki Raikes, graduated together from Smyrna High School in 1979, and recently celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary. They have two sons, Drew, who lives in Nashville with his wife, Ali, and their son, Hayes, and Chase, who also lives in Nashville with his wife, Madeline.

SOURCE: Media Release

Today, the Tennessee Department of Education released the 2022-23 Tennessee Comprehensive Assessment Program (TCAP) district-level results, following the release of the state-level results last month. These results include both Fall 2022 end-of-course (EOC) exams and Spring 2023 exams in English language arts (ELA), mathematics, science, and social studies, and data is presented by subject, grade and student group, and district.    

This year, district-level TCAP assessment data is available on a new interactive dashboard on the State Report Card, labeled “2023 District Assessment.” This new section will help students and families, educators, district and school leaders, and policymakers visualize TCAP assessment results and have a better understanding of 2023 TCAP performance. To learn more about how to view district-level data on the interactive dashboard, watch this short overview video here. 

“These results reflect the dedication and continuous efforts of Tennessee districts and educators to prepare students and make academic gains,” said Lizzette Reynolds, Commissioner of Education. “Using this data to make informed decisions and strategic investments in education, Tennessee is well prepared for the work that lies ahead, and we will continue to put kids first.” 

District-level TCAP results are essential to providing a snapshot into each of Tennessee’s school communities. During the 2022-23 school year, students took state TCAP assessments in general education subject areas to collect valuable data and inform strategic decision-making on how to best support the success of all students. Overall, the 2022-23 TCAP student participation rate increased from last year, with 92 districts achieving a 99% participation rate and 29 districts achieving 100% participation rates.   

Tennessee’s school districts are the best sources of information for characterization of local results because they know their communities best. This release is an opportunity for each school and district community to review their students’ progress after the local implementation of programs, initiatives, and targeted supports that accelerate student academic achievement. 

The 2022-23 TCAP district-level data highlights are below, including all subjects and grades tested:     

• In 68 districts, over 38.7% of students scored “met expectations” or “exceeded expectations.” 
• In 19 districts, over 50% of students scored “met expectations” or “exceeded expectations.” 
• 132 districts increased proficiency rates from the 2021-22 school year to the 2022-23 school year. 
• 107 districts increased proficiency rates from the 2019-20 school year to the 2022-23 school year. 

“Cannon County Schools will utilize this year’s TCAP results to drive our goals for the upcoming school year, said Bonnie Patterson, Director of Schools.  “We take ownership of our challenges and successes and will take immediate steps toward improvement toward academic success. One such step will include new diagnostic tools to track student performance throughout the year based on grade-level academic standards. We look forward to rising to the challenge as we set our goals to meet or exceed state averages.”  

To help Tennessee families and students understand their individual TCAP results, the department’s free online resource, the TCAP Family Portal, provides access to current-year TCAP scores, as well as past years’ test results and additional information for each student. The 2022-23 TCAP results for all tested students are now available in the TCAP Family Portal. 

TCAP has been the state’s testing program since 1988, and it includes assessments in math, English language arts, social studies, and science. Tennessee students participate in TCAP testing once a year in grades 3-8 and at the end of certain classes in high school. TCAP assessments are meant to measure how well students have gained the knowledge and skills expected for their subject and grade level, based on the Tennessee state academic standards. 

For more information on the state’s assessments, click here.  

To learn more about learning acceleration pathways and resources, click here. For additional at-home reading resources and sample test questions, visit Best for All Central. 

United Way of Rutherford and Cannon Counties received over $1.6M through the Families First Community Grant for the Launch Point program. The Tennessee Department of Human Services (TDHS) selected United Way of Rutherford and Cannon Counties’ Launch Point program as one of 40 programs to receive the Families First Community Grant, which began in spring 2023. This project is funded under a grant contract with the State of Tennessee.

According to TDHS, “The Families First Community Grant program was created as an additional method to invest TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) funds in ways to provide assistance to low-income families and help them move towards sustainable economic stability.”

Launch Point is a United Way initiative designed to improve the financial stability of families residing in Rutherford and Cannon Counties. The TDHS grant and partnership enables the local United Way to provide Launch Point Success Coaches to assist eligible, low-income families in achieving goals and navigating available resources for up to 18 months.

The Launch Point model uses Success Coaches embedded within local community partners. Success Coaches will focus on the family’s transportation, childcare, and housing barriers. These barriers can prevent families from attending work or seeking additional job training. Launch Point works hand in hand with community partners and our VITA program to offer these resources to help families thrive.

The funding also allows United Way to join forces with community partners to provide numerous financial services, including credit and money management, first-time home buyer counseling, financial coaching, budgeting, workshops, free tax preparation, job skills training, and college assistance programs.

Kristen Swann, Vice President of Collective Impact and Strategic Initiatives, stated, “One of United Way’s goals centers around providing support for the ALICE (Asset-Limited, Income-Constrained, Employed) population in our community. This data tells us that almost half of all residents of Rutherford and Cannon Counties are working but cannot meet the true cost of living here. Launch Point is a way to provide wrap-around services and support to families to help prevent crisis, help them stabilize, and help them imagine what thriving looks like for their family.”

Launch Point is a part of United Way’s 2030 Bold Goals Initiative, a 10-year plan to improve the lives of families in our local community through six vital areas, including financial stability. The TDHS funding and partnership will help United Way achieve its financial stability Bold Goals by allowing them to meet families where they are when they need it most.

To learn more about Launch Point, visit https://www.yourlocaluw.org/launchpoint.

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation has released its 2022 ‘Crime in Tennessee’ publication, which details the volume and nature of crime, as reported by the state’s law enforcement agencies.

The report compiles data submitted to TBI through the Tennessee Incident-Based Reporting System (TIBRS). Among the report’s findings:

• Reported incidents of Murder, Rape, and Kidnapping all decreased, by double-digit percentages, from 2021 to 2022.
• 119,215 Group A arrests were made in 2022, of which 7.98% were juveniles.
• The number of reported DUI arrests decreased from 19,656 in 2021 to 17,794 in 2022.
• The number of reported Identity Theft victims increased 25.55% from 2021 to 2022.

“The TIBRS program continues to serve as a model for the nation and remains successful because of the continued cooperation by Tennessee’s law enforcement community,” said TBI Director David Rausch. “TBI remains committed to this effort and will continue to provide the training and technical assistance necessary to collect the most accurate and comprehensive crime statistics for Tennessee and its citizens.”

The full report is now available for review and download on TBI’s website, at www.tn.gov/tbi.

Tennessee gas prices are trending slightly higher this week, increasing three cents, on average. The Tennessee Gas Price average is now $3.10 which is five cents less expensive than one month ago and $1.20 less than one year ago.  

“Gas prices are trending higher after the Fourth of July holiday, likely due to higher demand alongside decreasing supply,” said Megan Cooper, spokeswoman for AAA – The Auto Club Group. “The good news is that oil prices still remain low. Unless that changes this week, the upward pressure on gas prices could possibly ease fairly soon.” 

Quick Facts

• 34% of Tennessee gas stations have prices below $3.00 
• The lowest 10% of pump prices are $2.84 for regular unleaded 
• The highest 10% of pump prices are $3.46 for regular unleaded
• Tennessee is the 5th least expensive market in the nation