NEWSROOM

State Representative Fred Atchley (R-Sevierville) is recognizing eight Sevier County volunteer fire departments and rescue agencies that received more than $166,000 in state grant funding over the past year through the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance and the State Fire Marshal's Office. The grants support equipment, training, and operational needs for the first responders who serve communities across District 12. Commissioner Carter Lawrence, Assistant Commissi

State Representative Fred Atchley (R-Sevierville) has received the endorsement of the Tennessee Professional Fire Fighters Association for his reelection campaign to the Tennessee House of Representatives, District 12. The TPFFA represents 35 affiliates and approximately 7,100 active and retired firefighters, fire prevention professionals, fire instructors, EMS personnel, and emergency services workers across the state of Tennessee. The organization has served Tennessee's fir

Every Tennessean has the right to worship in peace – you should be able to do so without fear of intimidation, disruption, or violence. Unfortunately, we live in a time when these sacred spaces are increasingly under threat. Across the country, we have seen vandalism, harassment, and even deadly attacks targeting people at prayer. It is a disturbing trend, and Tennessee will not tolerate it. This session, the General Assembly passed legislation to increase protections for hou

Walk into any store, and you will notice something different than you did a few years ago. More products are locked behind glass. More security guards are standing watch. More empty shelves where merchandise used to be. Organized retail crime is a growing problem across the country, and Tennessee is not immune. These are not petty shoplifters. They are sophisticated operations that steal thousands of dollars in merchandise, resell it online or through black markets, and use t

Ask any working parent, and they will tell you: child care is one of the biggest challenges they face. Finding quality care is hard. Affording it is even harder. And for many families, the math simply does not work. The cost of child care can rival a mortgage payment, forcing parents to make impossible choices. This is not just a family issue. It is an economic issue. When parents cannot find affordable child care, they cannot work. When they cannot work, businesses cannot hi

If you live in a city, finding a doctor is usually not a problem. You have options. Specialists, hospitals, urgent care clinics. Help is usually just a few minutes away. Rural Tennessee is different. In many communities, the nearest hospital is an hour's drive. Finding a specialist can mean traveling to Knoxville, Nashville, or Memphis. And too many primary care physicians are stretched thin, serving far more patients than they can reasonably handle. This is not a new problem

Public safety is not a partisan issue. It is a basic expectation of government. When you call 911, someone should answer. When a crime is committed, there should be consequences. When dangerous people pose a threat to your family, the justice system should keep them off the streets. This session, the General Assembly delivered on that expectation with a strong slate of public safety legislation. We passed measures creating a presumption against releasing defendants charged wi

Every child in Tennessee deserves safety, stability, and the chance to thrive. For children in state custody, that responsibility falls to the Department of Children's Services. It is one of the most important and difficult jobs in state government. This session, the General Assembly passed several measures to strengthen oversight of DCS and ensure that children in state care receive consistent, high-quality services. One key piece of legislation establishes a statewide quali

We are raising the first generation of children who have never known a world without smartphones, social media, and constant digital connectivity. In many ways, that is a gift. Technology opens doors, connects people, and creates opportunities that previous generations could not have imagined. But it also comes with risks. And we are only beginning to understand what those risks mean for our children. Study after study has linked heavy social media use to rising rates of anxi

When severe weather strikes, electrical linemen are among the first to respond. They work through the night in dangerous conditions, climbing poles and handling live wires to restore power to our homes, hospitals, and schools. Most of us never see them. We just wake up to find the lights back on. Sometimes, these workers pay the ultimate price. Last April, Chance Carlton, a 32-year-old lineman from Carroll County, was killed while working to restore power following a severe s