News

In October, the Tennessee Department of Health is promoting awareness and resources for both breast cancer and domestic violence with the Wear a Little Purple with Your Pink Campaign.

This campaign combines the easily recognized pink ribbon for Breast Cancer Awareness Month with the purple ribbon for Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

“The purple and pink campaign is a call to action to prevent breast cancer and domestic violence, two important priorities for women’s health,” said TDH Commissioner Dr. Morgan McDonald, MD FACP FAAP. “We’re reminding women this month to get their routine mammograms, especially those women who have an increased risk of breast cancer, and letting all women know help is available if they are experiencing threats to their safety.”

During their lifetimes, nearly 1 in 8 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer, while 1 in 4 will experience domestic violence.

Breast Cancer Services

The Tennessee Breast and Cervical Screening Program provides breast and cervical screening services to uninsured and underinsured women, and diagnostic testing for qualifying men and women. Individuals requiring treatment for breast or cervical cancer, or precancerous conditions of these diseases, may qualify for immediate TennCare coverage through the Presumptive Eligibility Program.  Learn more  at https://www.tn.gov/tbcsp or Contact your local health department for more information.

If you would like additional information about the Tennessee Breast and Cervical Screening program, please email TBCSP.Health@tn.gov or call 1-877-969-6636.

Domestic Violence Resources

The Tennessee Coalition to End Domestic and Sexual Violence provides healing through counseling, prevention education, and advocacy for children, adults, and families, with prevention training and educational programs year-round. For those seeking support, a 24-hour crisis hotline is available at 1-800-356-6767.

Help is also available through the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233), or text “START” to 88788.

TDH’s Rape Prevention and Education Program offers training and support for community agencies, sports teams, schools, and universities to implement evidence-based prevention programs. These include Coaching Boys Into Men, Athletes As Leaders, Safe Dates, Shifting Boundaries, and Safe Bar.

“Both breast cancer and domestic violence have a disproportionate impact on different communities,” said Dr. Tobi Amosun, Dr. Tobi Amosun, Assistant Commissioner for TDH’s Family Health and Wellness Division. “Economic instability, unsafe housing, neighborhood violence, and lack of safe childcare all contribute to an increased risk of domestic violence. Additionally, black women are more likely to be diagnosed with breast cancer later in their lives. So, screening is a crucial part of early detection, and can improve cancer prognosis and prevent breast cancer deaths for black women.”

On Fri., Oct. 21, 2022, Wear a Little Purple with Your Pink Day, Tennesseans can support the campaign by wearing pink and purple and sharing pictures on social media using the campaign hashtags #WALPWYP, #StrongerTogether, and #IAmaPurpleAdvocate.

tnAchieves still needs more than 3,200 volunteer mentors to support the TN Promise Class of 2023! The deadline to apply to be a tnAchieves mentor is October 21, 2022.

tnAchieves mentors play a critical role in helping high school seniors become college ready and pursue their postsecondary dreams. In 2023, tnAchieves is reinventing its mentor program to confront enrollment challenges head-on! Mentors will meet their students in person and will have more time than ever before to connect with their group.

tnAchieves mentors commit one hour per month to serve as a task manager, resource and encourager for local high school seniors. Mentoring takes just one hour per month, but makes a significant difference in a student’s ability to realize their full potential! All mentors receive a training and handbook guide to the program. Go to the tnAchieves at the following link: https://tnachieves.org/mentors?mc_cid=19a4ab2af8&mc_eid=aaa9409c8a to learn more and apply!  If you have any questions, please contact Tyler Ford at tyler@tnAchieves.org or (309) 945-3446!

Students Attending a Post-Secondary Institution (College/University or TCAT):

County	2019	2020	2021	Net Change
Cannon County	59.5%	45.0%	42.0%	-17.5%

MENTORS:

Local School System	2023 Mentors	2022 Mentors	All Time High
Cannon County School District	6	13	14

Middle Tennessee State University officials cut the ribbon Thursday, Oct. 13, to officially open the new $40.1 million School of Concrete and Construction Management Building students just began utilizing on the west side of campus as they prepare for professional careers in a high-demand sector throughout the Midstate and beyond.

The 54,000-square-foot facility will be an integrated and experiential learning laboratory for 135 current Concrete Industry Management majors and 200 Commercial Construction Management students, and major change from their approximately 9,000 square feet of space in the Voorhies Engineering Technology building.

Among the building’s many features are a 200-seat lecture hall, four basic materials and building labs, a dedicated mechanical electrical plumbing, or MEP, classroom, a covered amphitheater, and two computer labs, including a virtual design and construction lab capable of advanced building models and construction simulations as well as an augmented virtual reality lab for immersive experiences.

Students graduating from the program average $60,000-plus in starting salary and have an almost 100% placement rate, program officials said.

‘Nation’s finest program’

University President Sidney A. McPhee calls it “the beginning of a new chapter in the success of our MTSU CIM (Concrete Industry Management) and CCM (Commercial Construction Management) programs. … With today’s dedication, we are publicly reaffirming our commitment to maintaining the nation’s finest program in Concrete and Construction Management.”

McPhee said he was “amazed at the many ways concrete was utilized in the design and construction. Students will see firsthand how the many forms of concrete can add value and creativity to a structure. The building is a true living laboratory, with examples of various construction techniques and operating systems operating in full view of students.”

Construction is a $1 trillion-plus industry that impacts every aspect of life —where we live, work, learn, shop, dine and more. School of Concrete and Construction Management Director Kelly Strong said there are 1,800 combined Concrete Industry Management (1,100) and Commercial Construction Management (600) alumni “who are leaders in our industry.”

McPhee saluted industry partners who raised $5 million in matching funding for the project and who “have been incredibly generous with their time and resources, enabling us to have an amazing facility for our students.” He also introduced numerous other MTSU supporters, including Board of Trustees members, led by Steve Smith, and state legislators.

The builder was Birmingham, Alabama-based Hoar Construction. Orcut/Winslow was the architect. Construction began in January 2021 and finished in September.

The new facility marks an expansion of the university’s Corridor of Innovation in the heart of campus, anchored by the state-of-the-art Science Building. In coming years, SCCM will have a new neighbor as the Applied Engineering Building will be built in that same area of campus.

U.S. Rep. John Rose, a Member of the House Committee on Financial Services, introduced the Bank Privacy Reform Act to stop the government from warrantless surveillance of the American people. Rep. Rose’s bill would reform the Bank Secrecy Act of 1970 by repealing requirements for financial institutions to report customers’ financial information, including transaction history, to government agencies without a warrant.

“Currently, the Bank Secrecy Act deputizes banks and allows for the warrantless surveillance of the American people,” said Rep. Rose. “The right to privacy is one of the hallmarks of a free country. The Fourth Amendment protects people from unreasonable searches and seizures. My bill, the Bank Privacy Reform Act, reaffirms those protections and would prevent the government from spying on consumers’ transaction history without first obtaining a warrant.”

This bill keeps intact sections of the Bank Secrecy Act that require financial institutions to maintain customer records but repeals those that require them to report to government agencies without a showing of probable cause. FDIC surveys found that approximately one-third of the unbanked, people not served by a bank or similar financial institution, have chosen to stay out of the banking system because they do not want to provide their personal financial information.

According to a national survey done by the CATO Institute, 79% say it’s unreasonable for banks to share personal records and bank transactions with the federal government, and 83% say the government should obtain a warrant to access your financial records. Additionally, credit card companies are now flagging legal purchases made at gun stores, and the Biden Administration faced immense public backlash for their proposal to monitor all financial accounts like Venmo, Cash App, Zelle, etc. with more than $600 in transactions.

Read the full text of the bill here.

In observance of National Fire Prevention Week Oct. 9 – 15, 2022 the Tennessee Department of Agriculture’s Division of Forestry reminds citizens that our state is heading into fall fire season. Dry conditions and trees that shed their leaves heighten fire danger and a debris burn permit is required for leaf and brush piles beginning Oct. 15.

“Careless debris burning is a primary cause of wildland fires every year in Tennessee,” State Forester David Arnold said. “Burning leaf and brush piles can be an effective tool to remove collected debris from your yard but the tool needs to be used safely with cooperative weather and under constant supervision. Practice safe debris burning and remember that state permits are required starting this Saturday in areas where local governments do not have established outdoor burning ordinances.”

Debris Burn Permits for leaf and brush piles are available at no charge via the MyTN mobile app or online at www.BurnSafeTN.org. Apply the same day you plan to burn. Online permits can be obtained daily from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. Central Time for any size leaf and brush burn pile. Each pile should be completely extinguished by the permit expiration.

For larger broadcast burning, such as forestry, agricultural, and land clearing, call the Division of Forestry burn permit phone number at 877-350-BURN (2876) Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. This phone line will open Friday, Oct. 14. Callers may experience lengthy wait times when call volume is high.

Permits are issued only when conditions are conducive to safe burning. If you live inside city limits, check with your municipality for additional restrictions before you burn.

A list of materials that are not allowed to be burned can be found from the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation at www.tn.gov/environment/program-areas/apc-air-pollution-control-home/apc/open-burning.html. Call 1-888-891-TDEC to report illegal burning.

Burning without a permit is a class C misdemeanor and punishable by up to 30 days in jail and/or a fine. Individuals are legally required to stay with their fire until extinguished.

The following tips should be followed when it is safe to conduct a debris burn:

• Check with local authorities to make sure there are no local restrictions on burning currently in place, especially in cities and towns that have their own burning permit system.
• GET A PERMIT. A permit is required from the Tennessee Division of Forestry between October 15 to May 15 where local restrictions do not supersede.
• Notify your local fire department and neighbors to let them know your plans to burn.
• Do not burn on windy days.
• Stay abreast of changing weather conditions.
• Establish wide control lines down to bare mineral soil at least five feet wide around burn piles.
• Keep fire containment equipment on hand during the fire (e.g. rake, shovel, water).
• Stay with the fire until it is completely out.

Visit www.BurnSafeTN.org for additional tips to burn safely and to protect your community.

Tennessee fell to the 9th least expensive market in the nation

Pump prices across Tennessee saw significant increases over last week, jumping 21 cents, on average, across the state. The Tennessee Gas Price average is now $3.39 which is 11 cents more expensive than one month ago and nearly 39 cents more than one year ago.  

“Last week, oil and gasoline futures were sent back to 5-week highs after OPEC and its allies announced plans to cut oil production next month by 2 million barrels per day, ” said Megan Cooper, spokeswoman for AAA – The Auto Club Group. “The U.S. price of oil also rose about 17% last week. Since oil is a key ingredient in gasoline, this raises the cost of producing, buying and selling the fuel. Therefore, it’s very likely that Tennesseans will see additional fluctuations at the pump over the course of this week.”

Quick Facts

• 93% of Tennessee gas stations have prices below $3.50
• The lowest 10% of pump prices are $3.21 for regular unleaded 
• The highest 10% of pump prices are $3.70  for regular unleaded
• Tennessee is the 9th least expensive market in the nation

National Gas Prices

OPEC+ recent announcement that the group of oil-producing nations would slash output by 2 million barrels per day led to the price of oil creeping above $90 a barrel for the first time in several weeks. A higher cost for oil usually means more expensive gasoline. Meanwhile, domestic demand increased as more drivers fueled up last week. The national average pump price for a gallon of gas rose 12 cents over the past week to hit $3.91.

According to new data from the Energy Information Administration (EIA), gas demand increased nationally from 8.83 million b/d to 9.47 million b/d last week. Total domestic gasoline stocks decreased significantly by 4.7 million bbl to 207.5 million bbl. High gasoline demand, amid tight supply, has led to higher pump prices nationwide.

Today’s national average of $3.91 is 19 cents higher than a month ago and 65 cents more than a year ago.

National Oil Market Dynamics

At the close of Friday’s formal trading session, WTI increased by $4.19 to settle at $92.64. Crude prices increased last week after OPEC and its allies including Russia, known as OPEC+, announced intentions to cut crude production by 2 million b/d next month. Although crude prices have surged, the pricing impact may be short-lived as demand concerns continue to weigh on the market. For this week, crude prices could reverse course if the market continues to see indicators of weakening demand due to ongoing COVID-19 lockdowns in China and a slowdown in the economy as fears of recession grow, which could see crude prices decline due to falling demand. Additionally, EIA’s latest weekly report showed that total domestic crude inventories declined by 1.4 million bbl to 429.2 million bbl.

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

Tennessee Regional Prices 

• Most expensive metro markets – Jackson ($3.45), Memphis ($3.45), Nashville ($3.42)
• Least expensive metro markets – Johnson City ($3.28), Kingsport-Bristol ($3.31), Chattanooga ($3.35) 

To cast a ballot in the November 8th State and Federal General Election, Tennesseans must register to vote by 11:59 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 11. “I encourage all Tennesseans to register to vote or make sure their registration is up-to-date before the registration deadline,” said Secretary of State Tre Hargett. “To make your voice heard on Election Day, you must be registered to vote. Fortunately, it has never been easier for Tennesseans to register to vote or update their registration.” Registering to vote, updating or checking your registration status is fast, easy and secure with the Secretary of State’s online voter registration system, GoVoteTN.gov. Using a computer, phone or tablet, any U.S. citizen with a driver’s license or a photo ID issued by the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security can register in minutes at GoVoteTN.gov. Each submission is checked against the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security’s database. Voters can also download a paper voter registration application at GoVoteTN.gov. Completed paper voter registration applications must be mailed to your local county election commission office or submitted in person. Mailed voter registrations must be postmarked by Oct. 11. Election Day registration is not available in Tennessee. Early voting for the Nov. 8 State and Federal General Election starts Wednesday, Oct. 19, and runs Monday to Saturday until Thursday, Nov. 3. The deadline to request an absentee by-mail ballot is Tuesday, Nov. 1. The Secretary of State and county election commissions are Tennessee’s trusted sources for accurate election information. For trusted election information, follow the Secretary of State’s social media channels Twitter: @SecTreHargett, Facebook: Tennessee Secretary of State and Instagram: @tnsecofstate. For more information about registering to vote in Tennessee, go to GoVoteTN.gov or call the Division of Elections toll-free at 1-877-850-4959.

The Tennessee State Veterinarian is lifting statewide poultry restrictions following the detection of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) last month in a backyard flock in Obion County, Tenn.

HPAI was confirmed in a backyard flock of poultry in Obion County on Sept. 15. The disease is known to be deadly for domesticated fowl. Although the affected site remains under quarantine, movement permits are no longer required for poultry moving into or out of the control zone of 10 km (6.2 miles) surrounding the site. Poultry shows, exhibitions, and sales can now also resume statewide. However, poultry owners are reminded to maintain strong biosecurity procedures, remain vigilant, and report signs of illness in their birds.

“The coordinated response to stop the spread of HPAI in this area worked, but we can’t let our guard down,” Tennessee State Veterinarian Dr. Samantha Beaty said. “We are grateful to our animal health technicians, the poultry industry, backyard flock owners, and our partners for working together to protect our state’s birds. Still, HPAI is highly transmissible and we strongly encourage poultry owners to continue doing all they can to ensure good health in their flocks.”

Although HPAI does not pose a food safety risk, no infected poultry are ever allowed to enter the food supply. Poultry and eggs are safe to eat when handled and cooked properly. The risk of human infection with avian influenza during poultry outbreaks is very low. In fact, no transmission to humans was reported during the outbreak that affected commercial poultry farms in Tennessee in 2017.

Owners of backyard and commercial poultry flocks are encouraged to:

• Closely observe domesticated birds.
• Report a sudden increase in the number of sick birds or bird deaths to the Tennessee State Veterinarian’s office at 615- 837-5120 and/or USDA at 1-866-536-7593.
• Prevent contact with wild birds.
• Practice good biosecurity with your poultry. More information can be found online at healthybirds.aphis.usda.gov/.
• Enroll in the National Poultry Improvement Plan (www.poultryimprovement.org), the Secure Broiler Supply Plan (www.securebroilersupply.com), and the Secure Egg Supply Plan (www.secureeggsupply.com) as appropriate for your operation.

Information about Tennessee’s response to avian influenza and resources can be found online at www.tn.gov/agriculture/businesses/animals/animal-health/avian-influenza.html.

The Secretary of State’s Honor Vote Program allows Tennesseans to dedicate their vote Nov. 8 State and Federal General Election to a veteran or active-duty member of the U.S. military. “We have the right to select our leaders through free elections thanks to the brave men and women who have served our country in the armed forces,” said Secretary of State Tre Hargett. “The Honor Vote program is a small way that we can show our appreciation for the soldiers who fought for our rights and serve our county to protect them.” The Honor Vote program is free and open to any registered voter in Tennessee. Voters can choose to dedicate their vote to anyone currently serving in or a veteran of the U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard or Tennessee National Guard. Honor Vote participants will receive an information guide and an official 2022 Honor Vote button that they can wear while casting their ballot. All Honor Vote dedications are posted on the official Tennessee Honor Vote List on GoVoteTN.gov and the Honor Vote Twitter account @tnhonorvote. Participants are encouraged to share their dedication on their social media accounts using the hashtags #TNHonorVote and #GoVoteTN. For more information or to register your vote dedication, visit GoVoteTN.gov/honor.