Greenline Access at Perkins And Princeton Opened

A Perkins Road access point to the Shelby Farms Greenline was formally opened Thursday, June 29, in the Avon neighborhood.

The access point is at the northeast corner of Perkins and Princeton Road and takes bikers and pedestrians to the part of the greenline that passes under Perkins.

Construction began last fall with funding from a grant of $100,000 for the greenline made by Shelby County Commissioner Heidi Shafer, whose district includes the area.

– Bill Dries

TBI: Most Charged With Violent Crimes Younger

Tennessee Bureau of Investigation data for the first five months of 2017 shows more than 70 percent of Memphis Police Department arrests for murders and robberies were of suspects age 24 and younger.

And 48.9 percent of those arrested for major violent crimes between January and May in Memphis were 24 or younger. The major violent crime category includes murders, robberies, rape and aggravated assault.

The same demographic – age 24 and younger – accounted for 39.6 percent of reported victims of major violent crimes, according to the TBI data.

The data was released Thursday, June 29, by the Memphis-Shelby Crime Commission and the University of Memphis Public Safety Institute.

– Bill Dries

MATA Board Approves Route and Service Changes

Twenty-four bus route service changes and four new routes are ready to roll starting Aug. 6.

The Memphis Area Transit Authority board approved the changes Tuesday, June 27. The changes are the latest by the transit authority in recent years designed to improve service by altering routes and timing.

The MATA board had abolished the northern and southern legs of the 31 Crosstown bus service, one of the most popular in terms of ridership, in earlier changes.

On Tuesday, the board restored the northern leg of the route into the New Chicago area of North Memphis under the 31 Firestone name.

A listing of all of the changes can be found at www.matatransit.com.

– Bill Dries

Three Redbirds Named To Triple-A All-Star Game

The Pacific Coast League has announced that catcher Carson Kelly and pitchers Ryan Sherriff and Luke Weaver have been selected to represent the Memphis Redbirds at the 2017 Triple-A All-Star Game.

The game, which pits the PCL opposite the International League, will take place on Wednesday, July 12 at 8 p.m. (CT) at Cheney Stadium, home of the Tacoma Rainiers.

It will be televised live nationally on MLB Network.

Kelly, 22, will be participating in the third mid-season All-Star game of his career, also making the team in the Midwest League with Peoria in 2014 and in the Texas League with Springfield last year. The reigning Cardinals’ Minor League Hitter of the Year also participated in the 2016 All-Star Futures Game in San Diego and entered the season as a consensus top 5 prospect in the Cardinals organization.

This season, Kelly has been a force in the Redbirds lineup. Entering play on Wednesday, June 28, he was hitting .279 with 7 HR and 31 RBI. He was named the Cardinals Minor League Player of the Month for May after hitting .381 with 3 HR and 15 RBI in 22 games.

Sherriff, 27, earns All-Star honors for the second straight season after retiring the only batter he faced in the 2016 Triple-A All-Star Game. The southpaw reliever has allowed 14 runs on 30 hits in 34.2 innings with 31 strikeouts against seven walks. He has converted four of five save opportunities and also posted a 2-0 record.

Entering games of June 28, Sherriff was tied for the second-most appearances in the league (31) and ranked among league leaders in fewest base runners per 9 innings pitched (9.61, 3rd) and fewest walks per 9 IP (1.56, 4th).

Weaver, 23, is a first-time mid-season All-Star. He was named a post-season All-Star in the Texas League while pitching for Springfield in 2016. The reigning Cardinals Minor League Pitcher of the Year has been dominant in his first full season at Triple-A, going 6-1 with a 2.16 ERA in 10 starts. In 50.0 innings, Weaver has allowed only 14 runs (12 earned) on 38 hits with 11 walks and 54 strikeouts. Weaver is considered a top 70 prospect in all of baseball.

– Don Wade

ALCO Management Earns Affordable Housing Honor

Memphis-based ALCO Management Inc. has been named to the 2017 Affordable 100 – a list published by the National Affordable Housing Management Association (NAHMA).

The list consists of the 100 largest affordable multifamily property management companies ranked by affordable unit counts. The 2017 Affordable 100 list is available on NAHMA’S website and will be published in the June issues of NAHMA News, Affordable Housing Finance magazine and Units magazine.

ALCO guides a portfolio of more than 7,500 conventional and affordable apartments.

“We have been building a portfolio of amazing communities all across the Southeast for more than 40 years,” said Frank Z. Jemison Jr., ALCO’s chief executive officer. “To now be one of the largest affordable housing managers in the country is a testament to this team, but the true testament for us is the difference we have made in the neighborhoods and communities in which we operate.”

NAHMA is the leading voice for affordable housing management, advocating on behalf of multifamily property managers and owners whose mission is to provide quality affordable housing.

ALCO also has a seat at the national table this year.

Executive vice president Michael D. Johnson is currently serving as president of the board of directors for NAHMA for 2017-18.

He was elected by NAHMA’s executive council late last year.

– Daily News staff

Crye-Leike Arkansas’ Top Real Estate Agency

Crye-Leike Real Estate Services, the nation’s fifth-largest independent residential real estate firm, maintained its position as the “Top Residential Real Estate Agency” in Arkansas in 2016, as ranked by Arkansas Business.

The weekly business newspaper released its annual survey of 2016 sales production results from real estate firms across the state in its June 19, 2017 edition.

Arkansas Business reported that Crye-Leike, “the perennial No. 1,” retained its spot atop the list with 2016 sales production increasing almost 4 percent to $1.26 billion last year.

Memphis-based Crye-Leike, founded 40 years ago in 1977, opened its first office in Arkansas in Jonesboro in 1999 and expanded into Little Rock in 2002. The company has 25 company-owned offices in Arkansas, including six franchise offices.

2017 marks the company’s 25th year of expansion outside its hometown market in Memphis.

– Daily News staff

Hamilton Eye Institute Director Earns Top Award

Dr. James Fleming, director of the Hamilton Eye Institute at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center, has received the 2017 Outstanding Physician Award from the Tennessee Medical Association.

Fleming is also the Philip M. Lewis Professor of Ophthalmology and former chair of the Department of Ophthalmology in the College of Medicine at UTHSC.

According to the medical association, the Outstanding Physician Award recognizes “TMA member physicians who, during the course of their careers, have made a distinctive mark on the profession of medicine, their colleagues and their communities.”

Fleming began his career with UTHSC in 1997 when he was recruited by the late Dr. Barrett Haik to lead Hamilton Eye Institute’s oculoplastic services.

Over the course of his 36-year career, Fleming has written or co-authored about 100 articles in peer-reviewed journals and presented more than 110 talks nationally and internationally. He also has a deep interest in health care policy and a long record of service to multiple organizations such as the Tennessee Medical Association, American Society of Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, and more.

– Andy Meek

TNT Express Operations Disrupted By Virus

FedEx announced Wednesday, June 28, that operations of its subsidiary TNT Express have been “significantly affected” by an information system virus on a worldwide basis.

While no data breach is known to have occurred, TNT’s operations and communications systems were disrupted.

“The operations of all other FedEx companies are unaffected and services are being provided under normal terms and conditions,” the company said in a release. “Remediation steps and contingency plans are being implemented as quickly as possible.”

The shipping giant reported that domestic and regional network services remain operational for the most part, but are moving slowly.

“We are also experiencing delays in TNT Express inter-continental services at this time,” the release went on to read. “We are offering a full range of FedEx Express services as alternatives.”

Trading of FedEx’s stock was halted briefly Wednesday morning, but was trading again mid-day.

FedEx said it will periodically provide updates as systems are remediated.

Any customers who may be affected by these disruptions should call TNT Express Customer Service or visit www.tnt.com.

– Patrick Lantrip

Mark Russell Named Executive Editor of CA

Mark Russell, the interim executive editor of The Commercial Appeal since May, is the permanent choice for executive editor of the daily newspaper.

Russell’s permanent move into the position was announced Tuesday, June 28. He is the first African-American leader in the 176-year history of the institution.

Russell came to the CA in 2013 as news director from being managing editor and executive editor of The Orlando Sentinel. Before that, he had been an editor at The Boston Globe and The Plain Dealer in Cleveland where he was also a reporter. Russell was also a reporter for The Wall Street Journal.

His move to Memphis was before The Commercial Appeal became part of Journal Media Group and the 2016 purchase of the newspaper by Gannett Co. Inc.

– Bill Dries

New U.S. Citizens Take Oath June 30 in Memphis

Lynuel Dennis, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services’ Memphis field office director, will administer the oath of allegiance to a new group of citizens during a special naturalization ceremony Friday, June 30, at the Benjamin L. Hooks Central Library at 3030 Poplar Ave.

The 51 citizenship candidates come from 29 countries: Australia, Belize, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Canada, China, El Salvador, Germany, Guinea, India, Iran, Jordan, Kenya, Mauritania, Mexico, Morocco, Netherlands, Nigeria, Pakistan, Philippines, Russia, Rwanda, Senegal, Slovakia, Sudan, Thailand, United Kingdom, Vietnam and Yemen.

In addition, 33 people ages 14 to 30 will take the oath of citizenship at the same time.

They have already become citizens by virtue of the citizenship of a parent but must be sworn in to receive the certificate that designates them as U.S. citizens. They will be seated behind the 51 people naturalizing.

The ceremony, which begins at 11 a.m., is part of USCIS’ annual Independence Day celebration.

– Andy Meek

Holiday Travelers to Enjoy 17-Year Low in Gas Prices

Motorists taking to the road for the July 4 holiday weekend will benefit from the lowest Independence Day gas prices since 2005, paying an average of $2.21 per gallon, well under the 10-year average of $3.14, according to GasBuddy.

Although average gas prices are at historic lows, the price variance on July 4 will be at historic highs. The spread between the nation’s lowest and highest priced gas stations stands at $1.29 per gallon, sharply higher than the 10-year average of 98 cents per gallon for this time of year.

This means there is a higher chance consumers will overpay at the pump over the holiday weekend.

In Memphis on Tuesday, June 27, average gas prices for regular unleaded ranged from a low of $1.84 per gallon at Mapco at 2767 Mount Moriah Road near Clarke Road, to $2.59 at the Shell station at North Main Street and Auction Avenue Downtown, according to memphisgasprices.com.

SUV drivers can save on average $11 per fill-up by stopping at the favorable end of the price spread, while smaller cars can save $6.

It is the first time in GasBuddy’s 17-year history that average gas prices on July 4 will be lower than the average price on New Year’s Day of the same year.

– Daily News staff

Consumer Outlook Index In Tennessee Dips

The most recent statewide survey of Tennessee consumers by Middle Tennessee State University’s Office of Consumer Research indicates their outlook on the economy “has waned heading into the summer months.”

The Tennessee Consumer Outlook Index declined slightly to 123 from 134 in March, a drop that mirrors results from recent national surveys, noted Tim Graeff, director of the Office of Consumer Research at MTSU’s Jones College of Business. Graeff pointed to the Conference Board’s Consumer Confidence Index decreases in April and May.

“Overall, Tennessee consumers are feeling somewhat better about both the national and Tennessee economies. However, consumers are experiencing decreased optimism regarding the future of the national and state economy, the job market, and their own personal financial situation,” Graeff said.

The quarterly survey of 627 Tennessee consumers was conducted between June 10 and June 19 with a margin of error of 4 percentage points. It consists of a series of questions that measure areas such as how consumers feel about the local, state and national economies as well as their personal financial situations and the job market. Go to http://mtsu.edu/consumer/tnoutlookreports.php for full results of the latest report.

In addition to tracking an overall index, the survey includes sub-indices that measure consumers’ views on their current financial situations, future expectations and purchasing plans.

“The modest increase in the purchasing index (in June), along with the decrease in future expectations, suggests very limited increases in consumer spending,” Graeff said, adding that this may lead to “a more cautionary approach” to spending in the future.

– Daily News staff

Fred’s OKs Short-Term Shareholder Rights Plan

Memphis-based Fred’s Inc., also called Fred’s Pharmacy now, announced Wednesday, June 28, that its board of directors has adopted a short-term shareholder rights plan that will expire on Sept. 25.

The move is related to recent increased trading volatility in the company’s shares, and in anticipation of substantial trading activity related to the pending merger of Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc. and Rite Aid Corp., which may result in Fred’s acquiring up to 1,200 Rite Aid stores.

The short-term rights plan ensures that the board remains in the best position to perform its fiduciary duties and enables all Fred’s Pharmacy shareholders to receive fair and equal treatment, according to a company statement.

One of the key provisions in the plan gives shareholders one right for each share of common stock they own at the close of business July 7. The rights will generally become exercisable only if a person or group acquires beneficial ownership of 10 percent or more of the company’s common stock. In that situation, each holder of a right – other than the acquiring person or group – will be entitled to purchase, at the then-current exercise price, additional shares of common stock at a 50 percent discount.

– Daily News staff

Germantown Approves 21-Cent Property Tax Hike

The Germantown Board of Mayor and Aldermen approved a 21-cent property tax hike Monday, June 26, on third and final reading.

Passage of the tax hike seems to end discussions with Shelby County Schools about the Germantown Municipal School District buying Germantown Elementary, Middle and High schools from SCS.

Germantown aldermen approved a property tax rate of $1.97, a 21-cent increase above the certified property tax rate of $1.76 approved by the state.

Germantown’s property tax rate before the 2017 countywide reappraisal of property was $1.93. Because the value of property overall – residential and commercial – increased in that process, the tax rate went down to $1.76 to produce the same amount of revenue for Germantown city government, which is a requirement by state law.

A move by alderman Dean Massey to keep the tax rate at $1.76 was voted down. The 21-cent property tax hike proposed by alderman Mary Anne Gibson and approved on a 3-2 vote Monday was 2 cents below what Mayor Mike Palazzolo and his administration had recommended.

Revenue from the tax increase will go, in part, for the construction of a new K-5 school.

Germantown leaders offered $25 million to SCS in May for the three existing schools that remained part of SCS in the 2014 demerger of Shelby County public education into seven separate school systems.

SCS leaders sought information, but ultimately the discussions didn’t go anywhere even though no one involved ever said publicly that the discussions were over.

– Bill Dries

Tenn. Rural Communities Enjoy Rapid Airbnb Growth

An Airbnb report shows that home sharing is having a growing impact in rural Tennessee. The report states that Tennessee has 1,100 active hosts and that annual earnings for rural Tennessee hosts exceed $9.3 million.

Other findings: year-over-year growth in guest arrivals hit 194 percent; 28 percent of all Tennessee Airbnb listings are in rural areas; and the average age of rural Airbnb hosts is 45.

Airbnb used the U.S. Census designation of “rural” to compile data for the report.

– Don Wade

Clarion Security Hired For County Building Security

Shelby County Commissioners approved a $1.9 million annual contract Monday, June 26, with Clarion Security starting July 1 to provide security services at county government buildings.

It is a switch from Allied. If renewed twice beyond the first year, it becomes a $6 million contract overall with Clarion.

The commission delayed approval of extending a security contract with Allied for a year so it could rebid the contract and apply new standards for minority and locally-owned business participation in county government contracts.

Allied bid, but Clarion was awarded the contract in a much-debated decision among commissioners over several months. Monday’s vote came with no debate among commissioners.

The commission also gave final approval Monday to an ordinance requiring that business owners in the county’s minority and women-owned business program provide proof of Shelby County residency to qualify to bid on county government contracts.

And the commission approved on third and final reading a change in the locally owned small business program for the same contracts, restoring points given to those businesses when they bid on projects.

The commission also approved $108,000 in reimbursement to the Shelby Farms Park Conservancy for a sewer system upgrade connected to the restrooms near the playground area of the park.

– Bill Dries

Five Local Attorneys Seek Open Judge Seat

Five Shelby County attorneys have applied to fill the vacancy in Shelby County Circuit Court created by the retirement of Judge Robert Childers effective this Friday, June 30.

The deadline to apply to the Trial Court Vacancy Commission was Monday, June 26, at noon.

The applicants are:

• Shannon D. Elsea of Cordova

• Brian S. Faughnan of Memphis

• Lewis W. Lyons of Memphis

• Tabitha F. McNabb of Germantown

• David M. Rudolph of Memphis

The vacancy commission will interview each of the applicants July 21 in a public process that starts with a public hearing at 9 a.m. at the Marriott Memphis East, 5795 Poplar Ave.

At the end of the session, the commission will narrow the group to three finalists. Those three names will be submitted to Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam, who will make the appointment.

– Bill Dries

Airport Promotes Thomas To Marketing Director

Glen Thomas has been promoted to director of strategic marketing & communications by the Memphis-Shelby County Airport Authority.

Thomas, who has more than 26 years of experience in marketing, public relations and media relations, has worked as the airport’s senior manager of strategic communications and community outreach since September 2013.

Prior to that, Thomas worked for Memphis Light, Gas and Water Division for 14 years as supervisor of communications and public relations.

“Glen joined the airport authority at a critical time for MSCAA and has proven his value time and time again,” said Scott Brockman, president and CEO of MSCAA. “Glen’s dedication and hard work has earned him this promotion and I look forward to his success in this new role as the re-invention of MEM starts to take shape.”

– Patrick Lantrip

Memphis Among Hardest Cities to Add Apartments

When it comes to adding new apartment projects, Memphis ranked as the No. 5 most difficult metro out of 50 metros surveyed, according to data compiled by Hoyt Advisory Services at the behest of the National Multifamily Housing Council and the National Apartment Association.

Honolulu, Boston, Baltimore and Miami rounded out the Top 5.

Titled the Barriers to Apartment Construction Index, the ranking scored 50 metro areas in an index that ranged from Honolulu’s 19.5 as the most difficult market to add apartments to New Orleans’ 5.9, which was the easiest.

In total, the study found that the U.S. would need to build a minimum of 4.6 million new apartments by 2030 to meet the expected increase in demand.

To meet this demand, the study found that developers would have to construct, on average, more than 325,000 new apartment homes each year. For reference, the apartment industry averaged only 244,000 new apartment homes from 2012 through 2016, and the last time more than 325,000 new apartments were built in a single year was in 1989.

“While the number of new apartments built each year has been rising, it hasn’t been enough to meet current demand and make up for any possible shortfall at certain price points in the years following the recession,” National Apartment Association chair Cindy Clare said. “This imbalance between high demand and limited supply options has driven down affordability and reduced housing options for renters.”

– Patrick Lantrip

Fred’s, Nielsen Expand Data Analytics Relationship

Memphis-based Fred’s Pharmacy and Nielsen announced Monday, June 26, they have expanded their long-term relationship with the renewal of data insights and analytics services.

Nielsen will become the exclusive account-level data provider for Fred’s Pharmacy, covering metrics for all 601 fred’s stores in 15 states across the southeastern U.S., as well as future stores within the health and wellness marketplace.

Nielsen has been an analytical partner to Fred’s Pharmacy for more than 15 years. As it continues to evolve its business into the drugstore space, the new agreement includes expanded market measurement and consumer targeting services and provides a dedicated Nielsen support team.

“By selecting Nielsen as our exclusive partner in managing our shared data and analytical needs, Fred’s will improve its consistency in data output and meet our increasing consumer and volumetric data needs, among other benefits,” said Mary Lou Gardner, Fred’s executive vice president and chief merchandising and marketing officer.

– Daily News staff

African-American Museums Get $400K in State Funding

A group of eight Tennessee museums that focus on the history of African-Americans in the state will get $400,000 in state funding.

The Tennessee Black Caucus of State Legislators announced the funding agreement Monday, June 26, with Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam as part of the state’s 2017-2018 budget.

The grants include $85,000 to The Withers Collection and Gallery on Beale Street, the archive of the photography work of the late Ernest Withers; and $10,000 each for The Slave Haven Underground Railroad Museum on Downtown’s north end and The African-American International Museum Foundation in North Memphis.

The one-time funding also includes $90,000 for The Allen-White School, formerly known as the Hardeman County Training School in Whiteville.

– Bill Dries

Biggest Fireworks Display In AZP History on July 3

The Memphis Redbirds’ Independence Day celebration on Monday, July 3, presented by AutoZone, will include the biggest postgame fireworks display in AutoZone Park history and a specialty ticket option that features an All-American baseball picnic.

First pitch in the finale of an eight-game homestand is set for 6:35 p.m. Following the game, the Redbirds will launch one of the Mid-South’s most spectacular Independence Day fireworks displays, which will be the largest ever at AutoZone Park.

The Redbirds are offering a $20 Field Box or $23 Dugout specialty ticket that includes a picnic featuring hot dogs, hamburgers, potato chips, assorted cookies, Coca-Cola products and bottled water. The picnic will run from when gates open at 5 p.m. until 7:30 p.m.

Also, the team will be wearing special Independence Day-themed jerseys, which will be auctioned during the game with proceeds benefiting the Redbirds Community Fund. Fans winning a jersey in the auction will go onto the field after the game to meet the player or coach and have it autographed.

Fans are invited to head to the ballpark early to hear the band Memphis Yahoos and enjoy $2 beers in the plaza before the game. Visit www.memphisredbirds.com/4thofJuly for more information and to purchase tickets.

– Don Wade

Bowl Names Tim McCarver Distinguished Citizen

The AutoZone Liberty Bowl honored former St. Louis Cardinals catcher and Hall of Fame broadcaster Tim McCarver on Sunday, June 26, with its Distinguished Citizen Award at a dinner that benefitted St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.

McCarver, who starred in football and baseball here for Christian Brothers High School, made his big league debut with the Cardinals at age 17 in 1959 and his career spanned four decades. He played in the 1964, 1967 and 1968 World Series with St. Louis.

As a national broadcast analyst, McCarver worked 23 World Series and 20 All-Star Games. He was inducted into the National Hall of Fame’s broadcast wing in 2012. He currently does selected TV games for the Cardinals on Fox Sports Midwest.

Previous Distinguished Citizen Award honorees include St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital founder Danny Thomas, Elvis Presley, Fred Smith, AutoZone founder Pitt Hyde, Paul “Bear” Bryant, former NFL coach Tony Dungy and Archie Manning, among others.

The 59th AutoZone Liberty Bowl will be played at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 30, and will feature teams from the Big 12 and the SEC.

– Don Wade

Walmart Foundation Gives $519,000 in Hunger Grants

Walmart Foundation recently celebrated a “Day of Giving” to help fight hunger in Tennessee, awarding 14 nonprofits a total of $519,000 in grants. The special day featured check presentations in nine locations across the state to organizations providing hunger relief for Tennesseans in need.

In the Memphis area, the Metropolitan Inter-Faith Association will receive $50,000 for its Meals on Wheels program that provides hot, nutritious lunches for homebound elderly and seniors.

Mid-South Food Bank in Memphis also will receive $50,000 for the Hunger’s Hope Food Distribution program distributing food and other groceries through a network of partner agencies.

With one in eight Americans struggling with hunger, hunger relief is one of Walmart’s and the Walmart Foundation’s core areas of giving and are committed to a goal of providing 4 billion meals to those struggling with hunger in the U.S. by 2020.

“At Walmart we consider it our responsibility to make a positive impact on the communities we serve, and we are proud to support these Tennessee organizations that share our same passion to help people live better,” said Sean Riley, Walmart regional general manager.

– Daily News staff

Baptist-Collierville Wins Distinction for Procedures

Baptist Memorial Hospital-Collierville, with support from physicians at Campbell Clinic, has earned its Joint Commission Seal of Approval for Advanced Certification of Total Hip and Total Knee Replacement, making the hospital one of only 45 in the nation with that distinction.

The advanced certification is for Joint Commission-accredited hospitals, critical access hospitals and ambulatory surgery centers looking to elevate the quality, consistency and safety of their services and patient care, according to the Joint Commission.

Baptist-Collierville underwent its inspection for the distinction on March 6 and 7. Joint Commission experts evaluated compliance with advanced disease-specific care standards and total hip and total knee replacement requirements, including orthopedic consultation and pre-operative, intraoperative and post-surgical orthopedic surgeon follow-up care.

Established in 2016 and awarded for a two-year period, the advanced certification was developed in response to the growing number of patients having total hip or total knee replacement surgery, as well as the increased focus on clinical evidence-based patient care as it relates to pain management, quality of life issues, functional limitation in mobility and the return to normal daily living activities.

– Andy Meek

Trump OKs Major Disaster Declaration for Tennessee

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced that federal disaster assistance has been made available to the state of Tennessee to supplement recovery efforts in areas affected by severe storms, straight-line winds and flooding from May 27 to May 28, 2017.

Federal funding is available to state and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofits on a cost-sharing basis for emergency work and the repair or replacement of facilities damaged by severe storms, straight-line winds and flooding in Blount, Cumberland, Fayette, Knox, Loudon, Morgan, Putnam, Rhea, Roane, Sevier, Shelby and Smith counties.

Federal funding is also available on a cost-sharing basis for hazard mitigation measures statewide. Warren J. Riley has been named the federal coordinating officer for recovery operations.

A summary of key federal disaster aid programs that can be made available as needed and warranted under President Donald J. Trump’s disaster declaration for Tennessee include:

Payment of not less than 75 percent of the eligible costs for debris removal and emergency protective measures taken to save lives and protect property and public health; costs for repairing or replacing damaged public facilities, such as roads, bridges, utilities, buildings, schools, recreational areas and similar public property, as well as certain private nonprofit organizations engaged in community service activities; and costs for hazard mitigation projects undertaken by state and local governments to prevent or reduce long-term risk to life and property.

Application procedures for state and local governments will be explained at a series of federal/state applicant briefings. The locations will be announced later.

– Daily News staff

Tennessee Board of Regents Approves Tuition Hike

The Tennessee Board of Regents has approved a 2.6 percent increase for in-state tuition rates at the community colleges and Tennessee Applied Colleges of Technology it governs.

The Regents approved the tuition hikes, which take effect with the 2017-2018 academic year, during a Friday, June 23, quarterly meeting in Harriman, Tennessee.

The increase brings the annual tuition for a student at Southwest Tennessee Community College taking 30 credit hours – 15 per semester – to $4,347. It brings the tuition at Dyersburg State Community College to $4,331 per year.

Tuition at the city’s two TCATs goes to $3,737 for an academic year.

For community college students taking 15 credit hours per semester, the percentage increase translates to a $51 increase per semester. Full-time students at the TCATs will pay $90 more for three trimesters, which are a full academic year in the technical colleges.

The tuition hike is the lowest for community colleges and technical schools in 25 years.

– Bill Dries