Free Public Records and Open Meetings Training

The Tennessee Comptroller’s Office of Open Records Counsel (OORC) is conducting three 2-hour virtual training seminars in the month of October for government employees, elected officials, media, and anyone who is interested in learning more about Tennessee’s public records and open meetings laws. 

Open Records Counsel Lee Pope will lead each class through a variety of topics including public records laws and procedures, open meetings requirements, and exceptions to the Tennessee Public Records Act. Qualifies for Certified Municipal Finance Officer, Certified County Finance Officer, and Utility Commissioner training credits. 

Oct. 7, 2021 - 1-3 p.m. CDT 

Oct. 12, 2021 - 1-3 pm. CDT 

Oct. 20, 2021 - 1-3 p.m. CDT 

For more information, click here.

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Dr. Ming Wang to be keynote speaker at Bedford County Regan Day Dinner.

On Thursday, September 16th, the Bedford County Republican Party will host its 2021 Reagan Day Dinner featuring keynote speaker, Dr. Ming Wang.  $40 per person. For more info, follow this link. 

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Constitution Day Celebration Sept. 17th

 Follow this link to order tickets. 

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Williamson County GOP Mix and Mingle, Wednesday, September 15, 2021

For more information, follow this link. 

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Davidson County rep feels ire of motorists over emissions testing

BY: SAM STOCKARD, Tennessee Lookout, AUGUST 31, 2021 -State Rep. Darren Jernigan is getting an earful from constituents wondering why they have to keep testing car emissions while neighbors in surrounding counties won’t when 2022 rolls around. ... as of January 2022, Davidson will be the only county in the state to test emissions after surrounding counties opted out of a voluntary program approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. ... Following passage of a 2018 law giving counties the opportunity to get out of the emissions testing program – pending approval by the EPA – surrounding counties such as Sumner, Rutherford, Wilson and Williamson voted to drop emissions testing. Nashville’s Metro Council, though, voted in 2018 to maintain the program. (link)

The following counties will not require emissions testing in 2022:  

• Hamilton 
• Rutherford 
• Sumner 
• Williamson 
• Wilson

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Nashville rents have increased 3.0% over the past month, and have increased sharply by 12.8% in comparison to the same time last year.

by Rod Williams - As reported by Apartment list, currently, median rents in Nashville stand at $1,208 for a one-bedroom apartment and $1,393 for a two-bedroom. This is the seventh straight month that the city has seen rent increases after a decline in January. Nashville's year-over-year rent growth lags the state average of 15.3%, but exceeds the national average of 12.4%.

For the full report, follow this link. 

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Memphis could lose legislative seat as census reveals plummeting population

Memphis could lose legislative seat as census reveals plummeting population

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The 911 Event, September 11th, Lebanon, TN

 

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20th Anniversary of 911 - A Salute to First Responders

 

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New Report Ranks Tennessee's Teacher Pension Plans Second Best in the Nation, Most Get a Failing Grade.

By Kaitlin Mulhere, Money,  August 31, 2021 -  Roughly three-quarters of states offer teachers a retirement plan that isn’t making the grade, according to a ranking released Tuesday. Just 13 states received either a B or a C grade overall in Bellwether Education Partner’s latest look at teacher retirement plans. None received an A. 

South Dakota, Tennessee, Washington, Utah and New York scored closest, topping the nonprofit organization’s new ranking.  Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Kentucky New Jersey and Illinois rounded out the bottom five states. (Read more)

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Judge rules short-term rental law unconstitutional

by CARLEY GORDON, WSMV, AUG 30, 2021 – A judge has ruled that it is unconstitutional not to allow short-term rentals in Hendersonville. The ruling could have consequences across the state. (link)

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Tennessee Democrats will pay $103K fine to FEC

Audit findings stem from 2016 election cycle 

by STEPHEN ELLIOTT, Nashville Post, AUG 31, 2021 -  The Tennessee Democratic Party will pay a civil penalty totaling $103,000 to resolve a series of issues federal regulators had with the party’s financial reporting during the 2016 election cycle. The Federal Election Commission found that the party improperly reported millions of dollars' worth of contributions during the cycle, much of that transferred from joint fundraising accounts with Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign. The party later accounted for most of the contributions. ...

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