Investigators have now identified a woman found dead Monday morning in Smithville as 28 year old Jessica Renee Stephens of Cannon County. Her cause of death will be determined following the completion of the autopsy and toxicology report.The case remains under investigation by the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department and Tennessee Bureau of Investigation.Stephens’ body was… Continue reading Body Found in Smithville Identified

A coalition of civil rights and education groups wants more opportunities for Tennessee’s inmates to get college educations.The Tennessee Educational Equity Coalition argues in a new report that better education for inmates saves taxpayers money by greatly reducing recidivism. Reduced recidivism also means less crime and safer communities.The report includes several proposals for improving inmate… Continue reading Coalition Wants College Opportunities for Inmates

Gov. Bill Haslam’s office says Amazon’s plans for a Tennessee operations hub expected to create 5,000 jobs represent "the single largest jobs commitment made by a company in Tennessee’s history."A Haslam news release Tuesday says Amazon will invest $230 million-plus to locate its Operations Center of Excellence in Nashville Yards, a 15-acre, mixed-use downtown development.… Continue reading Amazon Bringing More Jobs to Tennessee

The body of a woman was found Monday morning in the back yard of a residence in Smithville.The case is under investigation by the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation. The deceased has not yet been identified and the cause of death has not been determined.Authorities say the body is described… Continue reading Body Found in Smithville

As veterans are honored this month, the Tennessee Agriculture Department wants residents to know the state has more than 400 farmer veterans who consumers can support.Tennesseans can find their products by looking for the "Homegrown by Heroes" label in stores and on the Pick Tennessee website.The site connects consumers with local farms and markets and… Continue reading Veteran Farmers

Fuel prices are plunging. Tennessee motorists have seen gas prices decline 19 cents in the past 31 days. Sunday’s state average of $2.50 is 5 cents less than a week ago, and the lowest since April 12th. Despite the recent discount, we are still paying 16 cents per gallon more than this time last year.… Continue reading Gas Prices

The Warren County Commission’s Budget and Finance Committee will meet Tuesday night to review the USDA loan program options for the Warren County School Energy Savings Improvement Project. The meeting will begin at 7pm at the Administrative Building.

The McMinnville Board of Mayor and Aldermen will meet Tuesday night to consider seven resolutions and the appointment of members to the Tourism Development Board. Resolutions on the agenda include measures regarding the borrowing of up to $10 million for certain public works projects, and the acceptance of bids for two vehicles for the Community… Continue reading McMinnville Board

After running as a political outsider during his successful gubernatorial campaign, Republican Bill Lee says he’ll continue to stay out of the "bubble of Nashville" by delivering his State of the State address throughout various locations in Tennessee.However, Lee’s transition has since clarified that the governor-elect has no plans to flout state law.The promise is… Continue reading Lee Clarifies State of the State Speech

A joint investigation by Special Agents with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, the Warren County Sheriff’s Department, and Tennessee Fire Investigation Services has resulted in the indictment of a McMinnville man on an arson charge.On November 2nd, the Warren County Grand Jury returned an indictment charging 60 year-old Billy Ray Nelson with one count of… Continue reading Local Man Charged with Arson