Here is today's news on mymix1041.com, sponsored by Toyota of Cleveland: From the Chattanooga Times Free Press… Tennessee government and 147 local p
Here is today’s news on mymix1041.com, sponsored by Toyota of Cleveland:
From the Chattanooga Times Free Press…
Tennessee government and 147 local public school systems are projected to get an estimated $1 billion or so in one-time funding under Congress’ $900 billion coronavirus relief legislation, a top state legislator said Wednesday.
The relief bill was signed into law Sunday by President Donald Trump as part of a $2.3 trillion funding deal that includes $1.4 trillion in funding for federal government operations.
“The stimulus was passed in the second CARES Act, it was for schools nationwide. It’s like $54 billion,” state House Education Committee Chairman Mark White, R-Memphis, said Wednesday in a Times Free Press interview, confirming an account by Rep. Gloria Johnson, D-Knoxville, that she understood Tennessee’s share would be some $1 billion. “Tennessee’s going to get about $1.1 billion of that for all our public schools,” White said.
White said his understanding is that some $900 million goes directly to school systems and will be distributed based on upon their numbers of low-income students, while the remainder goes to the state for education purposes.
Also from the Chattanooga Times Free Press…
All Tennesseans age 75 and older are now eligible to receive COVID-19 vaccines in most Southeast Tennessee counties, including Hamilton, based on changes to the state’s vaccination plan released Wednesday.
K-12 school staff and child care workers also moved up in the vaccine priority line — ahead of adults with multiple high-risk conditions and other critical infrastructure workers — as did adults age 65 and older. However, those groups will not be eligible until the next vaccination phase, which is predicted to start around February or March, according to a graphic illustration of the new plan from the Tennessee Department of Health.
Tennessee health commissioner Dr. Lisa Piercey said during a news conference that the changes are focused on reducing risks to the health care system, society and economy while protecting those most vulnerable to serious and deadly COVID-19 infection.
With each new phase, individuals in a lower 10-year age bracket will become eligible for vaccination regardless of their job or if they have underlying health conditions.
From NewsChannel 9…
The latest White House Coronavirus Task Force report states Tennessee has the second-highest rate of new COVID-19 infections in the country and fourth-highest positivity rate.
The report, dated December 27 states Tennessee is well above the national average when it comes to new cases with 627 per 100,000 persons compared to the 391 per 100,000 nationally.
The positivity rate is 17.6% compared to the 11.3% national average. Although the rate of deaths has not been as concerning as it could be, the state is also above the national average with 6.9 per 100,000 compared to 5.1 per 100,000 nationally.
Nursing homes are also seeing an uptick with 46% of nursing homes reporting at least one new resident with the virus for the week of December 14-20. 67% of homes had at least one new case among staff and 21% reported at least one new COVID-19 related death.
Anyone under 40 who has gathered beyond their immediate household is asked to “assume you became infected” according to the report.
In news today…
Investigators from the Cleveland Police Department are seeking information on the whereabouts of a person of interest, Jordan Rogers, 21, in connection to the Stokes death on Burnham Drive in Cleveland on Monday, December 28th. Anyone who has contact with Rogers, or knows her whereabouts, is urged to contact the Cleveland Police Department at 423-476-7511. You may also leave a confidential tip via CPD’s Facebook inbox.
