Author Archives: Ronni Chase

The presence of the emerald ash borer (EAB) has been confirmed in Robertson County. The invasive beetle, which attacks and kills ash trees, was first detected in the Volunteer State in 2010. It has si...

The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) has received positive chronic wasting disease (CWD) test results in hunter-harvested deer in Dickson and Williamson counties, the first positive CWD case...

Smithville Mayor Josh Miller has confirmed the loss of $425,000 after the city fell victim to a sophisticated "Business Email Compromise." The city was attempting to wire funds to a vendor in Texas to...

Two men are behind bars after a raid on Chabelita's Restaurant and Market in Smithville, Tennessee. Investigators say the business was at the center of a smuggling operation where four minors were for...

The New Year will bring a regulatory shift for hemp-derived cannabinoids. House bill 1376 effectively bans products with high levels of intoxicating cannabinoids, including THCA, by setting a total TH...

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has given the green light to Tennessee to ban the purchase of "junk food" with federal food stamps. Starting July 31st, 2026, SNAP recipients will no longer be able ...

Two new laws in Tennessee tighten controls on digital access for minors include The Protecting Children from Social Media Act (HB 1891) which mandates that social media platforms obtain parental conse...

A new law pertaining to repeat domestic violent offenders goes into effect on January 1st (2026). Named for Robertson County Deputy Savanna Puckett, who was killed by her ex-boyfriend, Savanna's Law (...

Several laws take effect January 1st in Tennessee to modernize ID requirements for alcohol purchases, protect renters and improve healthcare benefits. Under SB 2129, grocery stores, but not bars or re...

In 2026, Tennessee Senate Bill 1798 requires bartenders to undergo a minimum of 3.5 hours of training on identifying and intervening in sexual assault and human trafficking. Under the new law that goe...