Local News
Midstate parents and teachers shared their opinions Tuesday night on the Tennessee Department of Education’s plan to give every school in the state a letter grade report card. Every school in Tennessee will be ranked based on student achievement, year-to-year growth and other metrics they are still working on. The state is hosting ten town halls to hear from stakeholders about how these school letter grades should be represented. The law requiring these letter grades passed in 2016, but this will be the first year it will be implemented.
The need for commercial truck drivers remains critical nationwide. Leaders are now launching a new initiative to address the shortage being felt in the Volunteer State. The American Trucking Association reported that the trucking industry faces a shortage of 78,000 drivers at current vacancies, which is the second-largest number on record. State officials launched a new website called TruckingTN.com to spread the word and educate potential candidates. It’s part of a statewide plan to expand CDL training and make it more accessible through 14 of the Tennessee Colleges of Applied Technology, known as TCATs.
Tennessee State Rep. Gloria Johnson (D-Knoxville) has announced a run to unseat Republican U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn in 2024. Johnson’s campaign launched Tuesday with a multicity tour around the Volunteer State. The state representative is traveling around Tennessee on Tuesday, making a stop in Knoxville at Savage Gardens. She will be joined by Representative Justin Jones in Nashville, campaign Co-Chair Representative Justin J. Pearson in Memphis, and campaign Co-Chair Senator Charlane Oliver in all three cities.
The rare spotless giraffe born at Brights Zoo has been named Kipekee. The reveal was made on the “Today” show Tuesday morning. Giraffe experts believe Kipekee is the only solid-colored reticulated giraffe living anywhere on the planet. The baby is now available for viewing at the zoo.