NASHVILLE, Tennessee, April 11 -- The Tennessee Bar Association posted the following commentary blog on April 10, 2026, by Azya Thornton: * * * 84 Counties Report Unemployment Rates Below 5% Close to 90% of Tennessee counties -- 84 out of 95 -- recorded unemployment rates below 5% in January, even as most saw increases from the previous month, according to the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development. Unemployment rates rose in 90 counties from December to January, decreased in three counties and remained unchanged in two.  more PR

WASHINGTON, April 11 -- Americans for Tax Reform posted the following statement on April 9, 2026: * * * After SC Enacts Path to 1.99 Percent Flat Tax, NC Lawmakers Deliberate Over Income Tax Phase Down to 2.49 Percent As governors and legislative leaders around the country make progress toward income tax elimination, a debate is raging in North Carolina, the state that kicked off a nationwide push toward lower and flatter state income tax rates, over whether the state's march to a 2.49% income tax rate, which would be the nation's lowest sin more PR

ATLANTA, Georgia, April 11 (TNSLrpt) -- Consumer Price Index, South Region March 2026 - A report from U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics Southeast Region - April 10, 2026 * * * Regional prices rose 1.3 percent in March, up 3.0 percent over the year * The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) in the South region increased 1.3 percent in March, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported today. The energy index rose 14.2 percent over the month. The index for all items less food and energy increased 0.3 p more PR

WASHINGTON, April 10 -- Rep. Steve Cohen, D-Tennessee, issued the following news release: * * * Congressman Cohen Commemorates 47th Anniversary of United States-Taiwan Relations Act * WASHINGTON - Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9), a member of the Congressional Taiwan Caucus, today released the following statement to commemorate the 47 th anniversary of the Taiwan Relations Act: "This landmark statute has served as the bedrock of the United States-Taiwan relationship for nearly five decades. "Since its enactment in 1979, the Taiwan Relatio more PR

WASHINGTON, April 10 -- Rep. Steve Cohen, D-Tennessee, issued the following news release: * * * Congressman Cohen Urges Immediate Continuation of Colossus Water Recycling Plant Construction * "We need rock-solid, airtight assurances that it will be built" MEMPHIS - Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) released the following statement after learning of xAI's work stoppage on the Colossus Water Recycling Plant: "Memphis and xAI officials broke ground on the greywater plant last October, and it must move forward without delay. This project was a more PR

WASHINGTON, April 10 -- Rep. David Kustoff, R-Tennessee, issued the following news release: * * * Congressman David Kustoff Announces 2026 Congressional Art Competition Winner * MEMPHIS, TN -Congressman David Kustoff (TN-08) hosted the 2026 Congressional Art Competition reception at the West Tennessee Regional Art Center in Gibson County. At the reception, Congressman Kustoff announced the winner, Tammy Le from Lakeland High Preparatory School. "Congratulations to Tammy Le from Lakeland High Preparatory School for winning the Eighth Congr more PR

BOONE, North Carolina, April 9 [Category: Sociological] -- Appalachian Voices posted the following news release: * * * EPA guts landmark coal ash protections, conceding to industry pressure WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency shared plans to weaken landmark coal ash protections, following a year of pressure from industry. The EPA's actions roll back key parts of the 2015 and 2024 "Coal Combustion Residuals," or CCR, rules, which were the first federal regulations on coal ash storage and cleanup. The sweeping  more PR

DALLAS, Texas, April 10 -- The Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas, a district bank in the Federal Home Loan Bank System, issued the following news release: * * * FHLB Dallas and Hancock Whitney Support Transitional Housing in Patterson, Louisiana, with $1.17M Grant * PATTERSON, LOUISIANA, April 10, 2026 -There's a larger transitional housing apartment complex available to residents of South Louisiana, made possible in part by a $1.17 million Affordable Housing Program (AHP) grant from the Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas and Hancock Whitney.  more PR

JEFFERSON CITY, Missouri, April 10 -- Gov. Mike Kehoe, R-Missouri, issued the following news release: * * * Governor Kehoe Reports on Success of Missouri's Operation Relentless Pursuit in First Year of Operations * Today, Governor Mike Kehoe reported that in its first year of operations, Operation Relentless Pursuit (ORP) task force officers arrested or assisted in the arrests of 1,585 fugitives wanted for outstanding felony warrants. The total includes individuals arrested in connection with a total of 26 murder or homicide charges. The ar more PR

NASHVILLE, Tennessee, April 11 -- The Tennessee Bar Association posted the following commentary blog on April 10, 2026, by Stacey Shrader Joslin: * * * Governor Signs Bill Easing Voting Rights Restoration Gov. Bill Lee has signed a bill into law that will ease the process of restoring voting rights for those convicted of felony offenses. SB336/HB687 removes a requirement that individuals returning from incarceration pay off all outstanding court fees before seeking voting rights restoration. The law also changes the requirement with regard more PR

ARLINGTON, Virginia, April 11 -- The Institute for Justice posted the following news release on April 10, 2026: * * * Court Dismisses Lawsuit Challenging Warrantless Trespassing by Alabama Game Wardens; Property Owners Will Appeal FLORENCE, Ala.--On Thursday, the Circuit Court of Lauderdale County granted the state of Alabama's motion to dismiss a constitutional lawsuit challenging a statute that permits game wardens to search private property without a warrant or consent. Killen residents Dalton Boley and Regina Williams, and Muscle Shoals  more PR

NASHVILLE, Tennessee, April 11 -- The Tennessee Bar Association posted the following commentary blog on April 10, 2026, by Azya Thornton: * * * Judge Declines to Block Immigration Harboring Law A federal judge has denied a request by Lutheran churches seeking to temporarily block a Tennessee law that makes it a crime to harbor immigrants without legal status, according to the Tennessee Lookout. The 2025 Human Smuggling Act created a felony offense for knowingly transporting or harboring individuals without legal status and a misdemeanor of more PR

NASHVILLE, Tennessee, April 11 -- The Tennessee Bar Association posted the following commentary blog on April 10, 2026, by Azya Thornton: * * * Legislative Updates Podcast Looks at Family Law Bill, Budget Debate, Session Wrap-Up The TBA's Legislative Updates podcast returns this week with TBA attorneys and lobbyists Brad Lampley and Ashley Harbin of Adams & Reese. They discuss the family law bill SB2324/HB2429, Gov. Bill Lee's amended budget, the legislature's final budget debates and the approaching end of the 2026 legislative session.  more PR

SANTA BARBARA, California, April 10 [Category: Health Care] -- Direct Relief posted the following news: * * * Medications Depart for Nepal, 11 Other Countries This Week * Over the past week, Direct Relief dispatched 530 shipments of requested medical aid to 46 U.S. states and territories and 12 countries worldwide. The shipments contained 3 million defined daily doses of medication. Medications and supplies shipped this week included diabetes management supplies, specialty therapies, antibiotics, reproductive health medications, and more. more PR

WASHINGTON, April 10 -- The U.S. Department of Justice Marshals Service issued the following news release: * * * Memphis Safe Task Force Thursday Rundown: MSTF Officers Make 51 Arrests, Recover 7 Illegal Guns * Memphis, TN - The Memphis Safe Task Force on Thursday executed 51 criminal arrests and recovered seven illegal firearms. Of note: Demario Anderson, 35, was arrested in St. Louis, Missouri, on a collateral lead for a homicide in Shelby County. On November 8, 2025, the U.S. Marshals Service Two Rivers Violent Fugitive Task Force in more PR

MURFREESBORO, Tennessee, April 11 -- Middle Tennessee State University issued the following news: * * * MTSU journalism students boosting promotional, outreach efforts of Honor Flight veterans org [+VIDEO] By DeAnn Hays NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Students in Middle Tennessee State University's School of Journalism and Strategic Media are working with Honor Flight of Middle Tennessee this semester to help the nonprofit reach more veterans and supporters. Associate professor Matthew Taylor and Justine Norton, a senior advertising and public relatio more PR

MURFREESBORO, Tennessee, April 11 -- Middle Tennessee State University issued the following news: * * * MTSU recognized among 2026 best MBA programs in Tennessee by Research.com By Jimmy W. Hart Middle Tennessee State University's Jones College of Business has been recognized among the best MBA programs in Tennessee 2026 ranking by Research.com. The university was also ranked No. 1 on the Best MBA Colleges in Tennessee list. Research.com is a leading university ranking platform dedicated to helping students make informed decisions about th more PR

NASHVILLE, Tennessee, April 11 -- The Tennessee Bar Association posted the following commentary blog on April 10, 2026, by Azya Thornton: * * * Nichols' Family Seeks to Dismiss Police Chief from Suit Tyre Nichols' mother RowVaughn Wells has requested that Memphis Police Chief Cerelyn "C.J." Davis be dismissed from a civil lawsuit in an effort to speed the case toward trial, according to the Commercial Appeal. Last month, Chief U.S. District Judge Sheryl Lipman of the Western District of Tennessee ruled that she will not split the civil cas more PR

WASHINGTON, April 11 -- Rep. Matt Van Epps, R-Tennessee, issued the following news release on April 10, 2026: * * * Rep. Van Epps' Bill To Strengthen Congressional Oversight of U.S. Partnerships with Non NATO Allies Rep. Matt Van Epps (TN-07), a member of the Homeland Security Subcommittee on Counterterrorism and Intelligence, and a veteran of the War on Terror, introduced the Major Non-NATO Ally Terror Threat Assessment Act. This legislation empowers Congress to provide oversight of Major Non-NATO Ally (MNNA) designations to ensure the Unit more PR

WASHINGTON, April 10 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R46961) on April 8, 2026, entitled "Social Security Coverage of State and Local Government Employees" by social policy analyst Zhe Li. Here are excerpts: * * * SUMMARY Social Security is the single largest federal program in terms of the number of beneficiaries as well as budget. It pays cash benefits to over 70 million beneficiaries each month, and total benefit payments are more than $136 billion on a monthly basis. Beneficiaries include  more PR

NASHVILLE, Tennessee, April 11 -- The Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance issued the following news on April 10, 2026: * * * TDCI Securities Division: Jumpstart Your Child's Financial Future with a Trump Account A 530A Account, Also Known as a Trump Account, Can Help Tennessee Children Build Long-Term Savings * The Tennessee Department of Commerce & Insurance's (TDCI) Division of Securities reminds Tennessee parents they can get started building their children's financial wealth by opening a Trump Account. Created under the On more PR

WASHINGTON, April 10 -- The Tennessee Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (TACDL) submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) opposing a proposed rule that would grant the Attorney General authority to review and potentially block state disciplinary complaints against DOJ attorneys. TACDL represents over one thousand criminal defense lawyers in Tennessee and advocates for fair administration of justice, including ethical oversight of legal professionals. In their letter, TACDL highlights that regulation and li more ST

JOHNSON CITY, Tennessee, April 10 -- East Tennessee State University posted the following news: * * * The hidden work shaping what we know * An ETSU faculty member earned the Education Sciences Outstanding Reviewer Award, recognizing contributions to strengthening research through peer review. Plenty of readers trust what they read in journals, never knowing that someone spent hours reading drafts, offering feedback and helping authors strengthen their work before it ever published. Dr. Jill Channing does that work. A lot of it. The a more PR

NASHVILLE, Tennessee, April 11 -- The Tennessee Bar Association posted the following commentary blog on April 10, 2026, by Stacey Shrader Joslin: * * * Trump to Nominate Ben Flowers to 6th Circuit President Donald Trump yesterday announced plans to nominate former Ohio Solicitor General Benjamin "Ben" Flowers to a seat on the U.S. 6th Circuit Court of Appeals. Flowers is an attorney at Ashbrook Byrne Kresge Flowers LLC in Cincinnati. He previously worked for Jones Day and Sidley Austin. If confirmed, he will fill the seat currently held by more PR

WASHINGTON, April 11 -- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services issued the following news release: * * * Ten Indian Nationals Indicted for Visa Fraud Conspiracy Defendants allegedly participated in staged armed robberies so that "victims" could apply for immigration benefits * U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services provided pivotal assistance to a visa fraud investigation that resulted in federal grand jury indictments of 10 Indian nationals. The defendants have been indicted by a federal grand more PR

ORLANDO, Florida, April 10 -- The University of Central Florida posted the following news: * * * UCF Collegiate Cybersecurity Competition Team Advances to Nationals After Outstanding Regional Win * Highlights * The UCF Collegiate Cybersecurity Competition team placed first at the 2026 Southeast Collegiate Cyber Defense Competition, where students defended a fictional company's network from live cyberattacks while maintaining operations. * The win marks UCF's ninth first-place finish at the regional competition since 2013. * The tea more PR

WASHINGTON, April 11 -- The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee released the following written testimony by Mikayla Pivec, organizing director and co-founder of the United College Athletes Association, Beaverton, Oregon, from a March 26, 2026, hearing entitled "Don't Fumble Their Future: Positioning Student-Athletes for Success in School and Beyond": * * * Thank you, Mr. Chairman and distinguished members of the committee. My name is Mikayla Pivec. I'm a professional basketball player, and former All-American at Oregon Sta more PR

MEMPHIS, Tennessee, April 11 -- The University of Memphis issued the following news: * * * Timber Talks Symposium Broadens Understanding of Mass Timber Wood is having a moment. To broaden the understanding of mass timber's benefits, the University of Memphis Institute for Agricultural and Conservation Research and Education (ACRE) and the Division of Research and Innovation, in partnership with the Tennessee Department of Agriculture hosted Timber Talks April 6-7. The two-day conference was attended by university faculty, researchers and ag more PR

WASHINGTON, April 11 (TNSrep) -- Washington and Lee University School of Law released data showing that 94.5 percent of its class of 2025 is employed in positions requiring a law degree or is pursuing further graduate education. The report, which calculates employment status 10 months following graduation, indicates that nearly 93 percent of graduates secured roles where bar passage is required or a Juris Doctor degree provides a professional advantage. This results in the fourth consecutive year that the institution has maintained an employme more PR