Beacon Center’s 2022 Pork Report Identifies Three Biggest Wastes of Taxpayer Money in East Tennessee

In its annual Pork Report published earlier this week, the Beacon Center of Tennessee highlighted three areas of waste, fraud, and abuse of Tennessee taxpayer money in East Tennessee. The report specifically identified the issues of the city of Knoxville’s lawsuit against Netflix and Hulu, synthetic turf athletic fields in Johnson City, and pickleball courts in Bristol.

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Two Connecticut Police Officers Killed, Another Seriously Injured in Shooting

Two police officers are dead and another is seriously injured after a shooting in Bristol, Connecticut, police said Thursday.

The suspected gunman waited outside as officers responded to a domestic incident call in a residential area of Bristol on Wednesday evening, Connecticut State Police said. When the officers arrived, the suspect opened fire, killing one officer on site, officials said. The other officer died in the hospital.

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Advanced Call Center Technologies Expected to Create 650 New Jobs with Expansion in Sullivan County

Advanced Call Center Technologies (ACT) announced Monday it will establish new operations in Bristol and Kingsport, creating 650 new jobs in Sullivan County. ACT’s expansion in the region will create 350 new jobs at its Kingsport facility and 300 jobs in Bristol, according to a press release by the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development (TNECD).

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Anti-Gun Group to Host Protests in Six Tennessee Cities

An anti-gun group will host protests in five cities later this month, as part of a nationwide effort to push gun control in the wake of a mass shooting at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas.

“What we are demanding from our state’s legislators should not be controversial, and will help to prevent preventable deaths in our communities,” said Carson Ferrara, a rising senior at Vanderbilt University and representative of March For Our Lives. “Last year, Tennessee Governor Bill Lee signed a law that allows anyone to carry a loaded gun in public without a permit. He signed it at a weapons manufacturing plant.”

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Bristol, Tennessee Preparing to Sue Bristol, Virginia over Stinky Landfill

The Bristol, Tennessee City Council voted unanimously on Tuesday to move forward with a lawsuit against its neighbor Bristol, Virginia over the Virginia city’s stinky landfill. The motion authorizes law firm Troutman Pepper Hamilton Sanders LLP to issue a notice of intent to sue to potential defendants, which is required at least 60 days before filing the suit. It does not obligate the Tennessee city to pursue legal action or block it from seeking a non-judicial settlement.

“We’ve suffered a lot, all of us. I don’t think there’s anybody in the room or sitting up here that wants to take legal action, but sometimes you have to do what you have to do. So, I just want to tell you that I’m sorry that you’re going through it. I thought many times that maybe we have gotten past it. I thought the last two days I didn’t smell anything, and right when I pulled up today, I smelled it here,” Bristol, Tennessee City Council Member Chad Keen said.

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Governor Ralph Northam Signs Major New Clean Car Standards Bill

Governor Ralph Northam announced newly-signed legislation Friday that will require approximately eight percent of model year 2025 vehicles sold in Virginia to be zero-emissions vehicles. HB 1965, introduced by Delegate Lamont Bagby (D-Henrico), adds Virginia to the list of states following California’s vehicle emissions standards, which are stricter than the federal standards Virginia currently follows.

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Coalition of Churches Opposes Bristol Casino

Eight churches in Bristol, Virginia are fighting against a proposed $400 million Hard Rock casino; residents will vote on the referendum this November. The coalition cites studies claiming that casinos prey on gambling addicts and questions whether a casino would draw high numbers of tourists as claimed by supporters of the referendum. Proponents say the casino would bring Bristol $15-$20 million a year in taxes and over 2,000 jobs averaging salaries of $46,500.

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More Cybersecurity Reportedly Needed in Tennessee Schools

The superintendent of the Bristol, Tenn. City School System reportedly wants school leaders across Tennessee and around the nation to have a comprehensive cybersecurity plan — immediately. Whether phishing attempts or outright hacks, cyberattacks on schools are reportedly increasing in grades K-12, according to a new article in EdScoop.com. The article discussed how Lilly joined two other superintendents to discuss school cybersecurity during a recent national webinar. The three superintendents, the website went on to say, offered five reasons to make cybersecurity a priority. The first reason must do with liability, according to EdScoop.com “Districts and school leaders can be held liable for network breaches. Individual superintendents and principals can even be sued. School management needs to take reasonable steps to ensure protection beyond data sharing policies,” the website reported. “Lilly explained that his schools, for instance, have frequent administrative access audits to ensure they can’t see information they shouldn’t, like Social Security numbers.” The other two superintendents on the webinar were Steve Bradshaw, who is a school superintendent in Montana, and Juan Cabrera, a school superintendent in El Paso, according to the website. “Bradshaw recommended all districts hold cybersecurity insurance so that the school can take care of problems…

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