Tennessee

05/07/2008 -- Tennessee Governor Phil Bredesen has requested a federal designation of agricultural disaster for Giles, Lawrence and Warren counties due to April 11 tornadoes that caused extensive farm damages.

A designation from the U.S. Department of Agriculture would allow farmers in these counties who suffered damages to apply for low-interest emergency loans to help them manage losses and recover during the growing season. Bredesen made the request in a letter to U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Ed Schafer.    » read more »

San Antonio, April 8, 2008 (By David Byrd) -- The University of Kansas has defeated Memphis, 75-68, to take the American men's big-college basketball title. As VOA's David Byrd reports from San Antonio, the game came down to some crucial shots in the waning minutes.

The game was evenly-matched and fast paced for most of Monday night. The lead changed hands nine times and the contest was tied eight times. The biggest lead was Memphis by nine in the second half, but Kansas was able to cut the lead to just two points with less than a minute to play.

Memphis freshman Derrick Rose made one of two free throws, to give the Tigers a 63-60 lead. But Kansas guard Mario Chalmers was able to hit a three-point shot with less than two seconds left, to send the game into overtime.    » read more »

03/31/2008 -- Tennessee Governor Phil Bredesen and ECD Commissioner Matt Kisber joined local officials today at three ceremonies across the state to sign agreements acknowledging the communities’ participation in the inaugural Orange Carpet Tour. The program is designed to acquaint veteran site selectors with development opportunities in Tennessee’s rural communities and to give communities the opportunity to gather feedback from veteran business consultants.

“Each of these communities has demonstrated a willingness to collaborate and work together on a regional basis,” Bredesen said. “At the end of this process, these communities will see how they are perceived by highly regarded site selection experts and how to use that knowledge to make themselves more competitive.”    » read more »

Atlanta, Ga., March 26, 2008 - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) - Region 4, as part of the Southeast Diesel Collaborative, today announced the availability of approximately $3.6 Million in grants to fund projects within the Southeast to demonstrate effective emission control technologies and strategies, methods or approaches to reducing diesel emissions. EPA expects to fund between five and ten grants ranging from $250,000 and $750,000. However, EPA reserves the option to fund a project at an amount lower than $250,000 if the proposed project involves retrofitting or upgrading an applicant’s entire fleet.    » read more »

03/19/2008 -- Tennessee Governor Phil Bredesen today signed an Executive Order establishing the Governor’s Task Force on Energy Policy. The Task Force is charged with developing a state energy plan to make Tennessee a leader in energy efficiency and conservation, use of alternative fuels and renewable energy sources, and the development of clean-energy technology.    » read more »

March 10, 2008, NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Nearly five weeks after Tennessee's severe storms and tornadoes, $6.7 million has been approved in disaster assistance grants and loans for homeowners, renters and business owners by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Tennessee Emergency Management Agency (TEMA) and the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA).

Following are highlights of assistance as of Monday, March 10:    » read more »

March 3, 2008, NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Nearly one month after tornadoes ripped through Tennessee, more than $4.3 million has been approved in disaster assistance grants and loans for homeowners, renters and business owners by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Tennessee Emergency Management Agency (TEMA) and the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA).    » read more »

Fayette County Residents Now Eligible for Individual Assistance

February 21, 2008, NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’'s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is extending federal disaster assistance to homeowners, renters and business owners in Fayette County who suffered damage or loss as a result of the Feb. 5-6 severe storms and tornadoes.    » read more »

February 20, 2008, ARLINGTON, VA -- U.S. Senator John McCain's presidential campaign today announced that former Colorado Governor Bill Owens and former Tennessee Governor Winfield Dunn have endorsed John McCain for president.    » read more »

February 13, 2008, WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will deploy mobile homes from its Hope, Ark. facility for use as disaster housing in support of the recent tornadoes in Arkansas and Tennessee. The mobile homes will be used to provide temporary housing for eligible applicants who suffered damages to or losses of their homes until the residents are better able to make other, more permanent arrangements.    » read more »

02/12/2008 -- Tennessee Governor Phil Bredesen announced today that the federal government has authorized a major disaster declaration for eight additional Tennessee counties. Benton, Hickman, Houston, Lewis, Montgomery, Perry, Trousdale and Williamson will receive federal funding to assist individuals and businesses affected by the tornadoes last Tuesday.

Hardin, Macon, Madison, Shelby and Sumner Counties, which were among the hardest hit in last week’s storms, were authorized to receive federal aid last week.    » read more »

February 11, 2008 -- The Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will continue to support the states impacted by the severe storms and tornadoes.

FEMA is closely working with its state and local partners to assess damage and identify needs. Specialists from the agency are on site to support the response efforts already underway. Regional activities are as follow:

Tennessee
Status

* 1 shelters; 11 people (TN EMA/Region IV – 02/10/08 – 4:30 p.m. EST)    » read more »

February 8, 2008, ATLANTA, Ga. -- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) says people in Tennessee who were affected by this week's severe weather can now get federal help.

President Bush approved a major disaster declaration for five Tennessee counties: Macon, Madison, Hardin, Shelby and Sumner counties.    » read more »

02/08/2008 -- The federal government today authorized a major disaster declaration for five Tennessee counties. Tennessee Governor Phil Bredesen asked President Bush yesterday to declare 21 counties federal disaster areas following Tuesday’s storms. In addition to the action today making federal funding available to individuals in Hardin, Macon, Madison, Shelby and Sumner Counties, declarations for additional Tennessee counties is expected as preliminary damage assessments for those counties are submitted.    » read more »

February 7, 2008 -- The President today declared a major disaster exists in the State of Tennessee and ordered Federal aid to supplement State and local recovery efforts in the area struck by severe storms, tornadoes, straight-line winds, and flooding during the period of February 5-6, 2008.

The President's action makes Federal funding available to affected individuals in the counties of Hardin, Macon, Madison, Shelby, and Sumner.    » read more »