Local News

The Robertson County Commission turned down requests by a Cottontown man to rezone two properties from agricultural to residential and commercial districts.  Roy E. Smith had plans to develop the Hwy. 31-W to feature three to five homes, and the rest to potentially be used for storage units. Hidden Meadow residents told commissioners they were concerned over flooding and land erosion issues fearing that more land development could cause a further increase of water flow down onto Hidden Meadow.

Tennessee is due to receive some six-and-a-half billion dollars from the infrastructure bill for improvements to roads and bridges.  The state’s transportation department is lining up projects now that will help solve congestion issues in larger cities and accessibility in smaller communities.  Projects include widening Interstate 65 from the Kentucky border to Nashville and making improvements to Interstate 40.

Governor Bill Lee says he plans to sign the omnibus bill passed during the COVID-19 special session of the General Assembly.  The governor today says he’s first going to examine the bill line by line and weigh the impact of the provisions.  The provisions cover everything from exemptions on mask requirements to which entities can require what when it comes to vaccines.

The former speaker of the Tennessee House says he’ll retire when his current term ends next year.  Glen Casada’s decision leaves his 63rd District House seat without an incumbent for the first time in 20 years.  Casada’s legislative career spans more than 20 years.  He resigned his post as Speaker of the House two years ago following a NewsChannel Five investigation that revealed racist and sexually explicit text messages between him and his former aide, Cade Cothren.