Newsroom & Media Center
Syndicate content Get RSS News Feed

Bredesen Signs Emergency Proclamation for Second Polk County Rockslide

Tuesday, February 09, 2010 | 04:46 pm
01-19-10 A second intermediate rockslide occurs on US 64 at mile marker 10.9.
01-19-10 A second intermediate rockslide occurs on US 64 at mile marker 10.9.
2-4-2010 Crews work to clear trees and mud from second rockslide site.
2-4-2010 Crews work to clear trees and mud from second rockslide site.
Proclamation is First Step in Receiving Federal Emergency Relief Funds for Rockslide Clean-up
 
NASHVILLE – Governor Phil Bredesen today signed an Emergency Proclamation declaring a state of emergency in Polk County due to a second rockslide on U.S. Highway 64. The proclamation is the first step in a process to receive federal emergency relief funds to pay for the clean-up of the second rockslide. On January 19, rock and debris slid onto US 64 at mile marker 10.9 near Maddens Branch in Polk County. The roadway was already closed due to another rockslide that happened November 10, 2009 at mile marker 17.6 at TVA Ocoee Dam No. 2. Emergency relief funds have already been approved for work at the first rockslide.
 
“Highway 64 is a major route for people living in eastern Polk County and the closure of this roadway has created a tremendous hardship on these communities,” said Bredesen. “These funds should help expedite removal of the second slide and I have again emphasized to TDOT the need to reopen the roadway as quickly as possible, without jeopardizing safety.”
 
Road Closures, Tennessee Emergency Management Agency, Transportation

TDOT Awards Emergency Contract for US441 Rockslide Clean-up & Repair in Sevier County

Monday, February 08, 2010 | 04:02 pm
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Department of Transportation today awarded an emergency contract to Charles Blalock & Sons, Inc. for the clean-up and repair of the US441 (The Spur) rockslide in Sevier County. Blalock was awarded a $713,909 contract to clear the rockslide and safely open the southbound lanes by March 12, 2010.
Media Advisories, Road Closures, Transportation

Federal Recovery Act Funds Put Hancock County Residents to Work

Monday, February 08, 2010 | 12:26 pm
TDOT's 50 new highway maintenance workers in Hancock County are ready to go to work. The positions are made possible through Governor Bredesen's initiative to use American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds to reduce unemployment in Hancock County.
TDOT's 50 new highway maintenance workers in Hancock County are ready to go to work. The positions are made possible through Governor Bredesen's initiative to use American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds to reduce unemployment in Hancock County.
TDOT’s New Employees Eager to Start New Jobs
 
Knoxville, Tenn. – Fifty Hancock County residents have their hard hats and safety vests in hand and are ready to start their new jobs with the Tennessee Department of Transportation.  The employees are part of a plan outlined by Governor Phil Bredesen on December 16, 2009 to use federal Recovery Act funds to reduce unemployment in Hancock County. On Monday, February 1, 45 new hires began their employee and safety training with TDOT and on Tuesday the department hired five more Hancock County residents. 
 
“TDOT has worked quickly to hire, train and place these Hancock County citizens on the job as highway maintenance workers,” said Bredesen. “These new jobs, along with others outlined in the plan to reduce unemployment in Hancock County, should help ease some of the strain caused by the economic downturn.”
 
Recovery Act, Human Services, Transportation

TN Department of Education Announces School Counselor Institute

Friday, February 05, 2010 | 11:34 am
Educating the Whole Child
Educating the Whole Child

NASHVILLE – The Tennessee Department of Education is proud to announce the fifth annual Tennessee School Counselor and Administrator Leadership Institute beginning next week in Murfreesboro. This year’s theme, “The 360 Approach: Educating the Whole Child,” addresses the critical need of ensuring that our students are both college- and career-ready.

Education

I-40 in Tennessee Ranked Best Road in Nation for Fourth Year in a Row

Thursday, February 04, 2010 | 01:35 pm
June 12, 2009 - Motorists travel the newly rebuilt section of Interstate 40 near downtown Knoxville
June 12, 2009 - Motorists travel the newly rebuilt section of Interstate 40 near downtown Knoxville
Truckers Rank TN Statewide Roadway System Third Best for 11th Consecutive Year
 
NASHVILLE – At 455 miles in length, Tennessee is home to the longest stretch of Interstate 40 in the nation and, for the fourth straight year, the nation’s truckers have rated it the best stretch of roadway in America. In addition, truck drivers rated Tennessee’s overall roadway system third best in the country for the eleventh year in a row according to a recent survey of truck owners and operators by Overdrive Magazine.
 
"Tennessee’s roadways are a major economic asset in our work to attract opportunities for growth and development in our communities,” said Governor Phil Bredesen. “I’m pleased to see this consistently high ranking of the state’s transportation system from some of the people who use it the most – our nation’s truckers.”
Transportation

TN Proclaims February National Career and Technical Education Month

Wednesday, February 03, 2010 | 01:35 pm

NASHVILLE – The Tennessee Department of Education is proud to announce students and faculty in 3,400 career and technical education programs of study in the state will celebrate February as National Career and Technical Education month. The theme of this month’s celebration, “CTE: Invest in Your Future,” highlights the importance of career and technical education in providing the essential skills necessary for future success.

Education

DHS Announces 2010 Summer Food Program

Tuesday, February 02, 2010 | 04:51 pm
Local Agencies to Offer Feeding Sites
 
NASHVILLE ‑ The Tennessee Department of Human Services is looking for non-profit and local government agencies to help feed low-income children this summer. The Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) is designed to provide healthy, nutritious meals to needy children during summer vacation. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) provides funding for the program, which is specifically designed for children who depend upon school lunch and breakfast programs and whose nutritional needs may be greater when schools are closed.  
Human Services

Bredesen Announces DCS Accreditation

Tuesday, February 02, 2010 | 09:11 am
Children's Services Becomes the Seventh Accredited State-Administered Public Agency
 
NASHVILLE – Governor Phil Bredesen in his State of the State Address Monday announced the Tennessee Department of Children’s Services has received accreditation from the Council on Accreditation, an international, independent, not-for-profit, child- and family-service and behavioral health care accrediting organization.
 
Tennessee’s Department of Children Services is the seventh state-administered agency to receive COA accreditation. State-administered agencies in Kentucky, Illinois, Louisiana, Maryland, Missouri and West Virginia are currently accredited by the organization.
 
“This is a real achievement for the Department of Children’s Services and speaks to the tremendous progress that’s been made under the leadership of Viola Miller,” said Bredesen. “The people of Tennessee can take both pride and comfort in knowing the people responsible for managing the cases of abused and neglected children have met these high standards.”
Children's Services