TennCare: Nearly 300k likely to lose coverage

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Nearly 300,000 Tennesseans who enrolled in Medicaid during the COVID-19 pandemic are expected to lose their coverage this year now that state officials are once again allowed to bump people from the government-funded health insurance program.

A spokesperson for TennCare, the state’s Medicaid program, said this week that no removals will occur until April 1, though she said in an email that the “redetermination process” will begin in March.

“Once we complete the federally and state required redetermination process, we expect to return to normal enrollment which was 1.4 million members and trending downward,” Amy Lawrence said via email. “Currently we serve above 1.7 million members.”

Across the U.S., state officials are preparing to comb through their Medicaid rolls after Congress agreed late last year to sunset a COVID-19 public health emergency requirement that prohibited states from booting people off Medicaid.

As a result, millions are expected to be removed from the program. Under the proposal, the federal government will also wind down extra funds given to states for the added enrollees over the next year.

Some health care experts have raised concerns about how Medicaid recipients will be alerted that they are being removed from the program.

Officer wounded, shooter dead in incident at Memphis library

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — A shooting at a Tennessee library left one person dead and a police officer critically wounded, authorities said.

Officers were called to the Poplar-White Station Public Library around 12:30 p.m. Thursday, where they encountered a man who had been the subject of a trespassing call in the same neighborhood about thirty minutes earlier, Tennessee Bureau of Investigation spokeswoman Keli McAlister said.

The man had started a confrontation with another person inside the library, and when officers attempted to talk with him, he pulled out a weapon and shot one of them, McAlister said. The other officer drew his weapon, shooting and killing the man.

McAlister did not identify the officers, but the man killed was identified as Torence Jackson Jr., 28, of Indianapolis. All three were Black men.

The officer was taken to a hospital “in extremely critical condition,” McAlister said.

There were employees and patrons inside the library at the time of the shooting, but no one else was injured, McAlister said.

The small library, on a busy street surrounded by high-rise office buildings, restaurants and stores, was blocked by yellow crime scene tape, with two fire engines and an ambulance parked nearby. Memphis police officers and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives agents were talking outside.

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation is working on the case at the request of the Shelby County prosecutor. The bureau often investigates shootings around the state when officers are involved.

Police use of force is being scrutinized nationally after five Memphis police officers were charged with murder in the fatal beating of Tyre Nichols.

UT to host youth gardening symposium

KNOXVILLE (AP) — The University of Tennessee Gardens on Thursday announced a partnership with the American Horticultural Society to bring the 2023 National Children and Youth Garden Symposium to Knoxville.

The event will take place July 12-15, according to a news release. This professional development event focuses on educators, garden designers, community leaders, youth program coordinators, and others who are dedicated to connecting children and youth to the natural world.

Topics will include curriculum, program management, and garden design and maintenance during four days of educational sessions and field trips. During the symposium, UT will showcase the youth gardening efforts taking place throughout Knoxville, including at the State Botanical Garden of Tennessee.

“The UT Gardens is an incredible resource for our campus and our community. We are proud to welcome educators from around the country as they connect with one another and learn new ways to spark joy and curiosity in children as they explore nature,” UT Knoxville Chancellor Donde Plowman said in a news release.

Gov. Lee appoints Tarwater to Tennessee Supreme Court

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Gov. Bill Lee on Thursday announced that he’s selected his predecessor’s one-time lead legal counsel, Dwight Tarwater, to serve on the state’s highest court.

Tarwater will replace outgoing Justice Sharon Lee upon her retirement on Aug. 31. Justice Lee announced in November that she would retire from the Tennessee Supreme Court after serving on the bench since 2008, when she was appointed by former Democratic Gov. Phil Bredesen.

She is the only remaining justice on the five-member court to be appointed by a Democrat after Justice Cornelia Clark died in 2021.

Tarwater is a partner at Knoxville-based Paine, Tarwater, Bickers, LLP. He previously served as former Republican Gov. Bill Haslam’s chief legal counsel.

“(Tarwater’s) understanding of the judiciary’s appropriate role and commitment to the conservative principles of judicial restraint make him well-suited for the state’s highest court, and I am proud to appoint him to this position,” Lee said in a statement.

Lee’s selection must be now confirmed by state lawmakers. Republicans have supermajority control in both legislative chambers. Supreme Court justices face “yes-no” retention elections every eight years.

Also Thursday, Lee announced that he had appointed Matthew Wilson to the Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals, Western Section. Wilson is currently an assistant U.S. Attorney in the Western District of Tennessee.

Rose Center seeking Arts & Crafts Vendors

The Rose Center is seeking arts and craft vendors for the Morristown Art & Bluegrass Festival wanted.

The Festival will be Saturday, May 6 in Downtown Morristown from noon – 7 p.m.

If you are interested in being an Art or Craft Vendor at this event please fill out the application at https://jotform.com/230264337516049.

Spay/neuter non-profit booking for May

SNIP-IT, a non-profit designed to provide spay/neuter services in Grainger, Hamblen, Cocke, Greene, Jefferson and Sevier countie, is now booking spay/neuter procedures for May.

SNIP-IT, or Spay/Neuter Is Provided in Tennessee, is the brainchild of Dr. Priscilla Seaton.

A veterinarian with decades of experience, she found her calling while working as a veterinary surgeon for a mobile spay/neuter clinic called “Prevent A Litter Connection.”

For more, call 865-771 7043 or text 865-617 4417 for an appointment.

The Hamblen SNIP-IT clinic is in the Goodwill shopping center on West Andrew Johnson Highway.

Cats are $70 for spay/neuter, rabies and pain medications and $90 for basic package with FVRCP, nail trim, microchip and flea medications.

Dogs are $80 for spay and neuter, rabies and pain meds and $105 for basic package with distemper/parvo, Bordetella, nail trim, and microchip.