Robertson Co. News

The City of Orlinda is on track to get a new manufacturing facility by year’s end that will bring 625 new jobs to the area. The Robertson County Economic Development Board last week, held a special meeting and approved a payment-in-lieu of tax agreement or PILOT for the new business, which will be housed in an existing building. As of right now, the name of this business is confidential; however, during the meeting, it was addressed as Project Mayflower.

It’s been 15 years since a deadly tornado ripped through Sumner County. The EF-3 twister hit on April, 7th 2006, killing seven people. The tornado also did nine-million-dollars damage to Volunteer State Community College, though no one there was killed or seriously injured. Every building on the Gallatin campus was damaged.

Bills sponsored in the State House and Senate aim to cap out-of-pocket insulin costs. The bills propose a limit of 100-dollars for a 30-day supply. Legislators on the Senate Commerce and Labor Committee are hearing about the proposal today. The Insurance Subcommittee will take up the bill in the House.

A bill creating tougher penalties for minors who commit sexual assault is advancing in the state legislature. The measure passed last night in the House looks to ensure that minors who commit rape can be sentenced to more than probation. If it becomes law, judges would have more discretion to sentence underage rapists to juvenile detention.

The General Assembly honored Dolly Parton for her contributions to children’s literacy. Her Imagination Library created in 1995 provides free books to children up to age five. Information on the project is posted on Imagination Library-dot-com.

Tennessee General Herbert Slatery III partnered with Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron to file a lawsuit that challenged a mandate from the Biden Administration in the American Rescue Plan Act. The lawsuit was filed against Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky. The suit argued the tax mandate “unconstitutionally usurps the authority of each State’s legislature to enact beneficial tax policies.”

Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee has joined fellow Republicans nationwide to advocate against COVID-19 vaccine passports, which are being developed to let inoculated people travel, shop and dine more freely.

Since President Donald J. Trump designated March 29 as National Vietnam War Veterans Day with the Veterans Recognition Act of 2017, Robertson County Mayor Billy Vogle has officially proclaimed the day as a time to remember and praise the County’s Vietnam Veterans.

During the Vietnam War, more than 58,00 American soldiers lost their lives, including 14 from Robertson County. Today, a monument stands at Springfield City Hall, immortalizing the brave Americans who served.

On Monday, April 5, Robertson County began booking appointments for individuals 16 and older who wish to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.

County Mayor Billy Vogle encouraged the vaccination effort saying, “The vaccinations are ramping up. I hear by the end of next week, all of our schools will have their second shots.”