Remote Instruction Waiver

Tennessee’s education commissioner says classrooms and schools facing a surge in COVID-19 cases and quarantines can request a temporary shift to remote instruction if their districts can show a need. In a refent letter Tennessee Department of Education Commissioner Peggy Schwinn said that while she remains committed to in-person instruction, schools and classrooms can now … Read more

TN Schools Masks

There are differing opinions as the Education Department has announced that it’s investigating five Republican-led states with universal mask bans, saying the policies could amount to discrimination against students with disabilities or health conditions.The department’s Office for Civil Rights sent letters to education chiefs in Iowa, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Utah. Those states have … Read more

Medication Business Re-Opens

Able to meet the demand for amoxicillin across the country, USAntibiotics reopened its manufacturing facility in Bristol, Tennessee, Monday after it went into bankruptcy in 2020. This marks the first time the facility is under American ownership.The company is the only licensed American maker of penicillin-based Amoxicillin and Amoxil Clavulanate.The 360,000-square foot facility will be … Read more

Labor Day Construction Break

For the busy Labor Day travel season, the Tennessee Department of Transportation announced that motorists won’t have to worry about alternate routes or lane closures while traveling the interstate to their Labor Day weekend destinations.TDOT said that it will halt all lane closure activities on interstates and state highways beginning on Friday, Sept. 3 at … Read more

NE TN Broadband Service

Local lawmakers and county leaders discussing broadband service have a goal to get nearly 500-million dollars in funding to provide broadband access to everyone in Northeast Tennessee.They refently discussed how local electric companies can access rural areas and provide much needed service.Leaders plan to start the application process for grants in January and use local … Read more

Holston Medical Group Surgeries

While Ballad Health has suspended elective surgeries for now, Holston Medical Group is now accepting new patients.”Even though a surgery might not be truly emergent it doesn’t mean it shouldn’t get done, it can affect long term health, return to work, quality of life,” said HMG’s Dr. Cheryl Stanski. Dr. Stanski said their surgeons can … Read more

Lee County Man Sentenced

A Lee County man is sentenced 21 years in the Virginia Penitentiary for kidnapping and “maliciously wounding” the mother of his child, according to a press release from the Commonwealth’s Attorney H. Fuller Cridlin.In the Lee County Circuit Court, Brandon Webb was found guilty on all charges that happened in May, and his prison sentence … Read more

Unemployment Benefit Fraud

Five Southwest Virginia residents have pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court after working with dozens of others to file fraudulent claims for more than $499,000 in pandemic unemployment benefits, according to a release from the U.S. Attorney’s. The release states that Patrick Payne, 43; Randall Johnson, 42; Steven Mullins Jr., 33; Curtis Mullins, 25; and … Read more

Lee County Veteran Identified

A Lee County veteran who was killed in the Korean War has been accounted for 70 years after he was reported missing in action.According to the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) Army Cpl. Roy H. Thomas, 22, of St. Charles, Virginia, was accounted for Dec. 22, 2020.In late 1950, Thomas was a member of Company … Read more

Korean Auto Supplier Invests Locally

A Korean automotive supplier is investing $40 million in Washington County and will create 117 new jobs according to officials.This marks Sungwoo Hitech America Corp.’s first U.S. manufacturing operations.Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee, Department of Economic and Community Development Commissioner Bob Rolfe and Sungwoo Hitech officials made the announcement.Sungwoo Hitech purchased the former Alo Tennessee (Bush … Read more