Tennessee Governor Bill Lee reports Promising Results From Historic Special Session on Education

Nashville, TN – Today, Tennessee Governor Bill Lee and the Tennessee Department of Education shared encouraging data around the state’s more than $160 million investment in academic summer camps to address learning loss and accelerate achievement for Tennessee students.

“Tennessee has led the nation in getting students back in the classroom and swiftly addressing learning loss,” said Governor Lee. “As we continue to prioritize our students, I’m encouraged to share positive outcomes of priorities established in our historic special session. I am hopeful for our state and thank the legislature for their partnership to turn the tide for Tennessee students.”

[Read more]

USDA provides $700 million in Grants in Help Relief to Farm, Food Workers Impacted by COVID-19

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Vilsack has announced that $700 million in competitive grant funding will be available through the new Farm and Food Workers Relief (FFWR) grant program to help farmworkers and meatpacking workers with pandemic-related health and safety costs.

The announcement was made in a press call with United Farm Workers Foundation Executive Director Diana Tellefson Torres and United Food and Commercial Workers International President Marc Perrone.

[Read more]

Tennessee Gas Prices go up 5 Cents

Nashville, TN – AAA reports that the Tennessee gas price average rose five cents over last week in the aftermath of Hurricane Ida. Holiday travelers also found the most expensive Labor Day gas prices in seven years. The Tennessee Gas Price average is now $2.91 which is nearly two cents more than one month ago and nearly 94 cents more than one year ago. 

“Historically, gas demand starts to decline in the fall as schools reopen and summer road trips end, which leads to less expensive gas prices,” said Megan Cooper, spokesperson, AAA – The Auto Club Group. “Despite the dip in demand, the national average is expected to remain above $3/gallon especially as crude oil continues to price on the higher end.”

[Read more]

5G Can Help Solve America’s Broadband Divide

The COVID-19 Coronavirus pandemic laid bare just how sorry broadband access is in America: 42.8 million Americans—more than 1 in 8, most in rural areas—have no broad­band Internet service where they live. And of those who do have broadband, 25% have only one choice.

Throughout Tennessee, there are over 500k people with only one choice for home broadband, and even worse, nearly 300k people are without any access at all. That lack of choice and com­petition leads to high prices, poor service, and some of the unhappiest customers in America. Only cable TV customers are less happy than ISP customers.

[Read more]

FDA Approves First COVID-19 Vaccine, Pfizer-BioNTech

Silver Spring, MD – Today, Monday, August 23rd, 2021, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the first COVID-19 vaccine. The vaccine has been known as the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine, and will now be marketed as Comirnaty (koe-mir’-na-tee), for the prevention of COVID-19 disease in individuals 16 years of age and older.

[Read more]

Tennessee Unemployment Rate drops for Second Month in a row

Nashville, TN – Tennessee’s statewide unemployment rate decreased for the second consecutive month in July, according to newly released data from the Department of Labor and Workforce Development.

The preliminary, seasonally adjusted rate for July 2021 is 4.7%, a drop of 0.2 of a percentage point from June’s revised rate of 4.9%.

[Read more]

AAA Offers Tips for End of Summer Travel and Beyond

Orlando, FL – Americans returned to travel in droves this summer, with recent AAA Travel bookings up at least 11% over 2019 levels, and even more people excitedly planning trips for 2022 and beyond. As summer comes to a close, travel volumes around Labor Day are expected to remain high.

Though, with a resurgence of COVID-19 Coronavirus cases attributed to the delta variant, some travelers are wondering if they should take that last summer trip – or continue with their future travel plans.

[Read more]

AAA reports National Gas Price Average Stabilizes

Washington, D.C. – New data from the Energy Information Administration (EIA) showed that gas demand and supply decreased.

Moving from 9.78 million b/d to 9.43 million b/d last week, the latest demand measurement is 500,000 b/d lower than the rate at this time in 2019, signaling that summer gas demand is likely softening as the school year starts and concerns about transmission of COVID-19 Coronavirus grow as infection rates continue to increase.

[Read more]

Tennessee Department of Education announces Free ACT Retake for High School Seniors

Free ACT Retake Opportunities Available for All Tennessee High School Seniors to Help Boost Scores

Nashville, TN – The Tennessee Department of Education has announced an opportunity this fall for all high school seniors to boost their scores on the ACT college entrance exam after taking the test the first time as a junior during the COVID-19 Coronavirus pandemic.

While a recent ACT, Inc. study found that the 2020-21 ACT results indicated an anticipated decline in ACT scores nationwide, Tennessee is the first and only state to offer this free retake opportunity to every Tennessee high school senior this fall. 

[Read more]

AAA reports Tennessee Gas Price Average drops almost Two Cents

Nashville, TN – The Tennessee gas price average declined slightly over last week, falling nearly two cents, on average. The Tennessee Gas Price average is now $2.87 which is a penny less than one month ago and 97 cents more than one year ago. 

“Leading up to Labor Day, pump price fluctuations are likely to continue due to high crude oil prices,” said Megan Cooper, spokesperson, AAA – The Auto Club Group. “Traditionally, gas demand typically drops considerably at the end of the summer which brings much-needed relief at the pump to drivers in the fall and winter driving seasons.”

[Read more]

« Previous Page — Next Page »