News

November’s unemployment numbers improved in a majority of Tennessee’s 95 counties, according to newly released data from the Department of Labor and Workforce Development (TDLWD).   Sixty-two counties experienced a drop in jobless rates during November when compared to the previous month. The rates remained the same in 25 counties and increased slightly in the remaining eight counties.   Nearly every county in Tennessee logged an unemployment rate below 5%. Only three counties marked rates exceeding 5% but under 10%.   Williamson, Moore, and Cheatham counties each had a rate of 2.5% in November, the lowest in the state.   With rates of 2.6%, Wilson, Rutherford, and Sumner counties had the next lowest November unemployment in Tennessee. Sumner County’s rate went down by 0.2 of a percentage point, Rutherford County’s rate dropped by 0.1 of a percentage point, and the number for Wilson County was unchanged. Cannon County had 193 residents looking for work, which translates into an unemployment rate of 2.8% for November.  That was an improvement of two tenths of a percent over October’s rate of 3%. Bledsoe County’s November unemployment rate of 5.3% was the highest in the state and mirrored its rate from October. Perry and Scott counties had the next highest rates for November. At 5%, Scott County’s figure declined by 0.2 of a percentage point and Perry County’s rate decreased by 0.1 of a percentage point for the month.   Tennessee’s statewide seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for November remained unchanged from October’s rate of 3.5%.   County unemployment rates are not seasonally adjusted to account for different seasonal impacts on the workforce.   TDLWD has prepared an in-depth analysis of the state’s county unemployment data which is available here.   TNWorkReady.com has easy-to-access links to Tennessee’s reemployment services, including Adult Education, the Office of Reentry, Apprenticeship TN, and how to locate the American Job Center closest to you.

Following a months-long third-party review of lethal injection operations at the Tennessee Department of Correction (TDOC), Tennessee Governor Bill Lee today announced several actions to ensure the department adheres to established protocol. Additionally, the Governor released the independent investigator’s third-party report to the public.

“I have thoroughly reviewed the findings in the independent investigator’s report and am directing several actions to ensure the Tennessee Department of Correction adheres to proper protocol,” said Gov. Lee. “We are proactively sharing both the third-party report and my administration’s next steps to ensure continued transparency for the people of Tennessee.”

On May 2, 2022, Tennessee retained former U.S. Attorney Ed Stanton to conduct an independent review and recommend corrective actions, following an oversight in adhering to the TDOC lethal injection protocol. After completing the independent investigation, Stanton delivered the third-party report to the Governor’s office on December 14, 2022. All legally-required redactions were applied by the independent investigator prior to the report’s delivery. The third-party report is publicly-available here.

After an internal assessment of the third-party report, Gov. Lee has directed several proactive steps to ensure TDOC adheres to established protocol, which will occur in the following sequence:

1. Make staffing changes at the department’s leadership level.
2. Hire and onboard a permanent TDOC commissioner in January 2023.
3. New department leadership will revise the state’s lethal injection protocol, in consultation with the Governor’s office and the Tennessee Attorney General’s office.
4. New department leadership will review all training associated with the revised protocol and make appropriate operational updates.

As previously planned, Interim Commissioner Lisa Helton will remain in the role until a permanent commissioner is announced in January 2023. At that time, Helton will continue serving the department as Assistant Commissioner for Community Supervision.

Gov. Lee added, “I commend Interim Commissioner Helton for her steady leadership, which has been particularly important during this time of change and transition at the department, and we are deeply grateful for her continued public service to our state.”

Upon launching the independent investigation in May, Lee issued temporary reprieves for five executions scheduled to take place in 2022. The Tennessee Supreme Court will be responsible for setting new execution dates after the Governor’s reprieves expire. Currently, Tennessee has no scheduled executions in 2023.

Congress passed legislation which will end the Medicaid continuous enrollment requirement related to the COVID-19 pandemic on April 1, 2023. At that time TennCare will be required to reverify the eligibility status of everyone receiving TennCare or CoverKids benefits. One of TennCare’s top priorities during this process is to make sure all eligible members do not risk a gap in health care coverage.

Per federal requirements, the ending of the continuous enrollment requirement will represent the first time in three years that Medicaid and CHIP members will go through the renewal process, and it will be one of the most substantial health coverage processes around the country. For Tennessee, the legislation means that more than 1.7 million Tennesseans will be impacted by this process. It is imperative that TennCare and CoverKids members update their contact information with TennCare and respond to all TennCare communication.

Over a twelve-month period, TennCare will review every member’s eligibility and, where approved by state or federal rules, use available data sources, such as Internal Revenue Service (IRS) income data and Supplementation Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) information, to automatically renew members. If TennCare cannot auto-renew a person’s coverage using available and approved data sources, the member will receive a pre-populated renewal packet by mail or a notification by email, depending on the selected preference. TennCare and its partner health plans will also use texts, email, and social media when available to enhance outreach efforts. A member will be able to complete the renewal packet through a variety of ways: Online, by phone, by mail, by fax, or at any county Department of Human Services (DHS) office.

For members no longer eligible for TennCare or CoverKids benefits, TennCare will send their information to the federal Health Care Marketplace, as required by CMS, where alternative health insurance options are available.

For nearly three years, TennCare has carefully planned for the end of the PHE and the resumption of renewals. The agency worked to improve TennCare Connect, the online portal where members can update their information and renew their coverage, as well as improved the mobile application for easier document submission.

TennCare has alsoworked to increase the number of members who can be approved through the auto-renewal process. TennCare initiated several campaigns to encourage members to update their contact information and worked closely with health plans, advocates and providers to ensure that members completed this important step. TennCare has created a public toolkit for stakeholders to continue to maximize awareness of the renewal process. The toolkit and other resources can be found here: https://www.tn.gov/tenncare/information-statistics/unwinding-the-phe-for-partners/phase-ii–educate.html.

TennCare has been and is committed to making the renewal process as easy and user-friendly as possible so that those eligible can continue to receive TennCare benefits, but it is a critical requirement for Tennesseans who receive these benefits to participate in the process by updating their contact information and responding to all TennCare communication. To prepare for the renewal process, TennCare members should verify that their address is up-to-date by logging in to TennCareConnect.tn.gov or by calling 855-259-0701. Information for members can be found at: www.tn.gov/tenncare/renewals

WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 6 PM THIS

EVENING TO 6 AM CST FRIDAY

WIND CHILL WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 10 PM THIS EVENING

TO NOON CST FRIDAY

* WHAT…For the Wind Chill Warning, dangerously cold wind chills expected. Wind chills as low as 15 below zero to 25 below zero.  For the Winter Weather Advisory, snow expected. Total snow  accumulations of one half to two inches.

* WHERE…Central and Northern Middle Tennessee.

* WHEN…For the Wind Chill Warning, from 10 PM Thursday to noon CST Friday. For the Winter Weather Advisory, from 6 PM Thursday to 6 AM CST Friday.

* IMPACTS…Plan on slippery road conditions. The hazardous conditions could impact the morning commute. The cold wind chills could cause frostbite on exposed skin in as little as 30 minutes.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

Avoid outside activities if possible. When outside, make sure you wear appropriate clothing, a hat, and gloves.

Slow down and use caution while traveling.

The latest road conditions for the state you are calling from can be obtained by calling 5 1 1.

The offices in the Cannon County Courthouse and the Adams building will be closed Thursday the 22nd thru Monday 26^th.

The county convenience center will be closed Thursday the 22^nd and Friday the 23^rd, open half a day  Saturday the 24^th and  closed Monday the 26^th.

Woodbury City Hall: Thursday, Dec 22—Closing at Noon, Friday, Dec 23 until Monday December 26^th.

The Chamber office will be closed beginning December 23rd through January 2nd and so will the Arts Center of Cannon County.

The Senior Center will be closed December 23rd–26th and December 30th—January 2^nd.

This week marks the fifth straight week of declines in the Tennessee gas price average. Over last week, gas prices across the state fell another nine cents, on average, and are now at the lowest point we have seen since May 2021. The Tennessee Gas Price average is now $2.75 which is 48 cents less expensive than one month ago and nearly 26 cents less than one year ago.  

“Gas prices have been declining for five straights weeks here in Tennessee – and 4 out of those 5 weeks brought us double-digit declines,” said Megan Cooper, spokeswoman, AAA – The Auto Club Group. “Low seasonal gasoline demand alongside consistently lower oil prices are continuing to give the gift of falling prices at the pump. Barring any unexpected rebounds in the price of oil, it’s likely the trend of falling gas prices will continue through the end of the year.”

Falling gas prices are an early present for all drivers, but especially for the 2.4 million Tennesseans who are forecast to take a year-end holiday road trip. Today’s state average is 24 cents per gallon less than what travelers paid at the pump last Christmas ($2.99). 

Quick Facts

• 52% of Tennessee gas stations have prices below $2.75
• The lowest 10% of pump prices are $2.41 for regular unleaded 
• The highest 10% of pump prices are $3.13 for regular unleaded
• Tennessee is the 6th least expensive market in the nation

National Gas Prices

Holiday shoppers may have a little more jingle in their pockets this year thanks to plummeting gas prices. The national average pump price slid 12 cents since last week to $3.14. There are now about 20 states with averages below $3 per gallon.

According to data from the Energy Information Administration (EIA), gas demand decreased slightly from 8.36 to 8.26 million b/d last week. This coincides with the arrival of the winter driving season, when fewer people hit the roads due to shorter days and more lousy weather. Meanwhile, total domestic gasoline stocks rose significantly by 4.5 million bbl to 223.6 million bbl. Increasing supply and lower gasoline demand are pushing pump prices lower.

Today’s national average of $3.14 is 54 cents less than a month ago and 16 cents less than a year ago.

National Oil Market Dynamics

At the close of Friday’s formal trading session, WTI decreased by $1.82 to settle at $74.29. Crude prices decreased at the end of last week due to a weaker dollar and ongoing market concerns that a recession next year could push oil demand and prices lower. For this week, lingering market fears about stalled or reversing economic growth could continue to push prices down. Additionally, the EIA reported that total domestic commercial crude stocks expanded substantially by 10.2 million bbl to 424.1 million bbl.

Drivers can find current gas prices along their route using the AAA TripTik Travel planner.           

Tennessee Regional Prices 

• Most expensive metro markets – Morristown ($2.92), Knoxville ($2.88), Jackson ($2.87)
• Least expensive metro markets – Clarksville ($2.63), Cleveland ($2.64), Nashville ($2.65)

As colder temperatures settle in this week, Middle Tennessee Electric (MTE) offers some simple energy-efficiency tips to help members manage their energy costs. Be smart with your thermostat. Set your heating system’s thermostat to 68o. You can expect to add 3% to your electric bill for each degree above 68o. Lower your water heater temperature. Set water heaters to 120oF and reduce hot water use by taking shorter showers. Use cold water for laundry whenever possible. Seal leaks around windows and doors. You can also use cardboard, plastic, or blankets to minimize heat loss. Leave drapes or blinds open during sunny winter days to allow the sun’s rays to warm the house but close them at night to help insulate your home. Rotate the direction of your ceiling fans. Blades should rotate clockwise during the winter. This pulls cold air up and helps push warm air back down to you, as warm air naturally rises to the ceiling. The fan should run at the lowest speed. Replace return air filters. Also, keep your heating and air conditioning equipment clean and well-maintained. A dirty filter will slow down airflow and make the system work harder to keep you warm. Turn off the dishwasher’s heat-drying options. Air dry dishes instead of using the dishwasher’s heat-drying options. Utilize the myMTE app. The myMTE app has a suite of useful tools, including one showing the hours a member’s household uses the most energy. Members can compare those hours with the temperature outside to get a better view of how much electricity is used when temperatures are lower. Consider Levelized Billing. This option allows members to pay roughly the same amount on their bill each month, removing any extreme month-to-month fluctuations caused by weather, energy use and other factors. It is calculated by taking an average of energy use for the previous 12 months and will only have moderate variations each month. Contact MTE at 877-777-9020 or through the online portal at mte.com to learn more. In addition to these tips, MTE has a team of energy efficiency experts ready to help members manage their electric use. To take advantage of this free service, visit mte.com/HomeEnergyCheckups for more information about our energy service coordinators or call 877-777-9020 to speak to a trusted energy advisor. For additional energy tips and resources, visit mte.com/EnergyTips.

The Tennessee Department of Education has announced over $800,000 in grant funding has been awarded to 34 districts for science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education, middle school career and technical education (CTE), and high school school-based enterprise projects.    

Funding is provided through Governor Lee’s Future Workforce Initiative, which boosts access to CTE, STEM, and Work-Based Learning (WBL) in the classroom. For the past two years, the department awarded start-up and expansion funding for middle school STEM and CTE programs and included a high school opportunity to qualify for school-based enterprise funding to increase enrollment in WBL courses. 

Middle School STEM Start-Up & Expansion Grants have been awarded to 52 schools, and Middle School CTE Start-Up & Expansion Grants have been awarded to 29 schools. Seven schools will receive High School School-Based Enterprise grant funding. To view a list of grant recipients, click here.

Middle School Career and Technical Education Start-Up & Expansion Grants 2023 Recipients includes Cannon County Schools with Cannon Middle School getting $10,000.00. 

“Tennessee continues to provide more pathways to help students transition from middle to high school, and these grants help ensure students have increased access to high-quality work-based learning opportunities, STEM, and career technical education,” said Commissioner Penny Schwinn.“We are thrilled that we can make these opportunities happen over the last two years and help students be successful during high school and into their postsecondary and workforce careers.” 

For the past four years, the Middle School STEM Start-Up & Expansion grants have directly supported the goal of the Future Workforce Initiative (FWI) to add an additional 100 new middle school STEM programs by 2022. High School School-Based Enterprise grants support the FWI by helping to eliminate barriers for students who can’t participate in off-campus WBL placements due to transportation and scheduling challenges. 

Districts were allowed to apply for all three grants this year. In their applications, grant recipients demonstrated the ability to align courses from middle school to high school, provide meaningful career guidance and advisement, and expand upon employer partnerships to create pathways for students.  

For more information about the Middle School STEM Start-Up Grants, CTE Career Exploration Grants, or High School School-Based Enterprise Grants, visit the department’s website. Learn more about the Governor’s Future Workforce Initiative here, which has already impacted nearly 400,000 Tennessee students and over 2,000 educators.

’Tis the season to travel, and AAA estimates 62.6 million Tennesseans will journey 50 miles or more away from home from December 23 to January 2. That’s an increase of over 107,000 people over last year and the third highest on record for the year-end holiday travel period in Tennessee.

Tennessee Year-End Holiday Traveler Totals
	Total Travelers	Auto Travelers	Air Travelers	Other Modes
2022 (Forecast)	2,665,991	2,449,274	69,463	97,253
2021	2,558,349	2,417,029	60,932	80,389
2019	2,838,624	2,667,182	73,949	97,493
Growth (2021 to 2022)	+4%	+3%	+14%	+21%

National travel figures are also stronger than 2021, yet slightly lower than pre-pandemic levels. An estimated 112.7 million Americans are forecast to travel during the year-end holidays. That’s an increase of 3.6 million people compared to last year and the third busiest since AAA began tracking in 2000. View all National travel figures in the full holiday travel report.

“Despite inflationary pressures, consumers remain resilient and dedicated to travel this year, and the holidays will be no different,” said Debbie Haas, Vice President of Travel for AAA – The Auto Club Group. “Americans are spending more on travel than any other time in the past two years. The good news is the cost for a holiday road trip will be less expensive than anticipated, now that gas prices are on the way down.”

Automobiles, Planes, Trains and Cruises

Nationwide, 90% of holiday travelers will drive to their destinations. In Tennessee, 2.4 million residents will take at least one holiday road trip. That’s 32,000 more than last year and nearly 92% of 2019’s volume.  

Air travel will see a 14% increase over last year, with nearly 7.2 million Americans expected to fly. Flights and airports will be packed this holiday season, reminiscent of pre-pandemic days. Demand for flights has surged despite higher airline ticket prices. AAA expects the number of people taking holiday flights this year will come close to matching 2019 when 7.3 million Americans traveled by air.

“If the distance is not reasonable to drive, more people are flying to maximize the time spent at their destination,” Haas adds. “Conversely, if the travel distances are reasonable and more than one or two people in the household are taking the trip, it may be more cost-effective to drive rather than buy multiple air tickets and rent a car.”

Other modes of transportation are also rebounding in a big way. AAA estimates travel by bus, rail, and cruise ship will rise to 3.6 million this holiday season, a 23% increase from last year and nearly 94% of 2019’s volume.

Gas Prices are Falling Fast

Holiday road trippers are getting the early gift of plunging prices at the pump. The state average has declined 46 cents per gallon since November 11. 

On Sunday, the average price for gasoline in Tennessee was $2.86 per gallon. That’s nearly 17 cents per gallon less than a year ago.

“Since most Americans have already made their holiday travel plans, these plunging pump prices may not necessarily lead to more auto travelers,” said Megan Cooper, spokeswoman for AAA – The Auto Club Group. “What we often see instead is consumers reallocating the added savings, spending more on hotels, shopping and dining out.”

The Tennessee Department of Education has released the ACT state results and participation rate for the 2022 graduating class. Participation in the ACT among the 2022 graduating class rebounded from previous years with a participation rate of 98% across the state. The state average composite ACT score remained steady at 19.1 for the 2022 graduating class.  

The ACT provides important measures to understand students’ college and career readiness and how Tennessee prepares the next generation to transition to postsecondary opportunities. Through Tennessee’s award-winning ACT Senior Retake program, the state offers public high school students the opportunity to take the ACT two times for free during normal school hours.  

Each fall, the department releases statewide ACT results for the most recent graduating class representing each student’s highest ACT score. The 2021-22 graduating class’s ACT results are available on the department’s Data Downloads webpage. 

“Tennessee remains committed to preparing each and every student for success beyond high school in the pathway of their choice,” said Commissioner Penny Schwinn.“Taking the ACT is an important gateway for many postsecondary opportunities and scholarships, and this year’s graduating class rebounded our state’s participation in the ACT to pre-pandemic levels—demonstrating the continued efforts by our districts, schools, teachers, and families to ensure our students are on a path to success.” 

Key highlights of the 2021-22 ACT state results include: 

• The ACT participation rate rebounded to pre-pandemic levels—with the state’s participation rate being 96% for the 2020-21 graduating class, 97% for the 2019-20 graduating class, and 98% for the 2018-19 graduating class.  
• The participation rate increased noticeably among three historically underserved student groups and decreased slightly among one historically underserved student group when comparing the participation rates from 2021 to 2022.  
• Black, Hispanic, and Native American students showed a 4%-point increase.  
• Economically disadvantaged students showed a 4%-point increase. 
• English learners showed a 7%-point increase. 
• Students with disabilities had a 2%-point decrease.  
• The average ACT composite score for students who took the ACT during their junior year and on the Senior Retake in 2021 increased from 18.4 to 18.9, a 0.5-point increase. Additionally, 50.2% of students who participated in the Senior Retake increased their composite score from their junior year in 2021. 
• Student performance on the ACT remains largely unchanged from 2021 to 2022.  
• The state average composite ACT score was 19.1 among both the 2021 and 2022 graduating cohorts.  
• Approximately 35% of students who took the ACT met the college-ready benchmark in 2022, while 36% met the college ready benchmark in 2021.  

District highlights of the 2021-22 ACT results include: 

• In 2021-22, 29 districts had a participation rate of 100%, compared to 17 districts in 2020-21. 
• 125 districts (96%) met the 95% ACT participation rate in 2022 compared to 110 districts (85%) in 2021.  
• Williamson County Schoolshad the highest percentage of students meeting the overall ACT composite benchmark of 21 (75%), followed by Germantown Municipal School District (73%) and Collierville Schools (65%). 
• Alvin C. York Institute demonstrated the highest growth in the percentage of students meeting the overall ACT composite benchmark of 21 with a 13 percentage point increase from 2021 (26%) to 2022 (39%), followed by Cheatham County Schools (11 percentage points increase) and Cannon County Schools (10 percentage points increase).  

In October 2022, Tennessee was awarded the inaugural ACT State Equity and Access Champion Award, celebrating and honoring the state’s commitment to postsecondary access by enabling more students to achieve their goals and dreams through the state’s ACT Senior Retake program. 

Tennessee leads the nation in ACT access, offering public high school students the opportunity to take the ACT two times for free during normal school hours. Public school students test once in the spring of their junior year, and then have an opportunity to retake the ACT in the fall of their senior year during normal school hours. As a result of the ACT senior retake program, Tennessee’s minority, low income, and underserved students have been able to achieve a two-point increase in average composite scores. Since Tennessee first provided the senior retake opportunity in 2016, 1 in 3 students have earned the qualifying ACT score to receive the HOPE scholarship award. 

In partnership with the University of Tennessee, Martin, the department offers free ACT prep workshops for students and educators. To learn more about college readiness testing in Tennessee, click here. 

ACT results serve as a nationally-normed measure to indicate college and career readiness. Under Tennessee’s accountability model, earning a 21 on the ACT is one of the four ways students can demonstrate that they are prepared for life after high school and a seamless entry into postsecondary education, the workplace, and the military. The ACT remains an element in the state’s Ready Graduate calculations to benefit students who were able to test and meet the ACT threshold for Ready Graduate classification. 

The November statewide unemployment rate in Tennessee held steady heading into the holiday season, according to the Department of Labor and Workforce Development (TDLWD). The seasonally adjusted jobless number for November 2022 remained unchanged at 3.5%.

In a year-to-year comparison, the statewide unemployment rate is down 0.1 of a percentage point. Tennessee has recorded unemployment rates at or below 3.5% since January 2022.

Statewide, Tennessee employers added 6,400 new jobs to their payrolls in November. The accommodation and food services sector experienced the biggest jump in new jobs, followed by the wholesale trade sector, and then the transportation, warehousing, and utilities sector.

Over the last year, Tennesse employers created 119,400 new jobs across the state. The largest share of that increase came from the leisure and hospitality sector. The education and health services sector accounted for the second-largest increase, with the trade, transportation, and utilities sector next on the list.

TDLWD has compiled a complete analysis of the November 2022 unemployment data here.

Across the nation, the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in November also remained unchanged at 3.7%. Compared to November 2021, the national rate has decreased by 0.5 of a percentage point.

Tennesseans looking for new job opportunities can start their search at Jobs4TN.gov. The site has hundreds of thousands of job openings from employers around and near Tennessee. Job seekers can also set up a virtual recruiter that will help them find positions they qualify for that are in their area of Tennessee.

TNWorkReady.com is the one-stop webpage Tennesseans can visit to get more information on job training opportunities across the state, for individuals reentering the workforce after incarceration, or for adult learners looking to sign up for classes where they can earn a high school equivalency diploma.

The state of Tennessee will release detailed unemployment data for each county on Thursday, December 22, 2022, at 1:30 p.m. CST.