Tennessee
Whooping cough cases on rise in Tennessee, adolescents at risk
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) – Whooping cough cases are on the rise in Tennessee. The numbers for this year, so far, are more than double than the number of total cases in all of last year.
For mom of three and an early elementary school teacher, Margaret Beagle, says she tries to do what she can to prevent her kids from getting sick.
”A lot of hand washing, a lot of reminders about hand-washing, so much hand washing,” said Beagle. “I cannot describe the amount of hand washing. A lot of sanitizing. A lot of lessons on hygiene how to use a tissue to wipe your nose how to sneeze into your elbow.”
She said once one gets sick, it’s just a matter of time, ”Some years, we’ve had to close our whole classroom because a high percentage of children have whopping cough, flu, strep or things like that. So, I think being careful at the beginning can stop those germs from spreading.”
The Metro Public Health Department says prevention is key when it comes to respiratory illnesses like whooping cough, which is a contagious bacterial disease.
Last year, there were 52 cases of whooping cough in Tennessee. This year to date there have already been 189 cases.
Interim Director of the department, Joanna Shaw-KaiKai said, ”There are multiple factors. We know during the pandemic people were going to less medical visits, so adults and children were getting less vaccinations. Also, during that time people were isolating more.”
The department says nationwide they’re seeing the same thing, “We’re seeing it to be more in the adolescent and adult population. The good thing is that there is antibiotics to treat it, but even better, there is a vaccine.”
Sometimes when prevention isn’t enough, Beagle and the department agree on trying to stay home if you’re sick.
Beagle said, ”I kept them home when they were sick as much as possible and I know that’s hard for working families, but just trying to keep them home and keep it contained.”
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Tracking the opt outs for both Tennessee and Illinois before the Music City Bowl on December 30 (5:30 p.m. Eastern Time, ESPN) at Nissan Stadium in Nashville:
Tennessee
Linebacker Arion Carter: Carter over the last seasons had 96 tackles, 13.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks in 31 career games. He had a team-high 76 tackles this season, with 6.0 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks while appearing in 10 games. He missed two games and was limited against Oklahoma in November while dealing with turf toe injuries. Carter had 68 tackles and 6.5 tackles for loss in 13 games last season and 17 tackles and 1.0 tackles for loss in eight games as a freshman in 2023.
Wide Receiver Chris Brazzell II: He a breakout senior season in his second year with the Vols, catching 62 passes for 1,017 yards and nine touchdowns. He had 19 catches for 333 yards and two touchdowns in 2024, after transferring from Tulane. In 15 games at Tulane he caught 45 passes for 722 yards and five touchdowns. Brazzell is ranked No. 7 at wide receiver on Mel Kiper Jr.’s NFL Draft Big Board. He’s ranked No. 34 overall on ESPN’s list of the best available prospects in the draft.
Cornerback Jermod McCoy: Did not play this season after tearing his ACL during offseason training in January. He was a star last season with 44 tackles, nine passes defended and four interceptions. He had 31 tackles and two interceptions in 12 games as a freshman at Oregon State before transferring to Tennessee.
Illinois
Offensive Tackle J.C. Davis: Bret Bielema said the Illinois starting left tackle is opting out of the Music City Bowl. He was an All-Big Ten First Team pick by the league coaches this season and the No. 3 left tackle this season according to Pro Football Focus grades. He had made 49 straight starts before opting out of the bowl game.
EDGE Gabe Jacas: The Illinois outside linebacker declared for the NFL Draft on Friday night. He led the Big Ten this season with 11.0 sacks. He had 13.5 tackles for loss and 43 total tackles in 12 games this season. He finishes second in Illinois program history for career sacks, with 27.0, trailing only Simeon Rice. Jacas had 74 tackles, 8.0 sacks and 13.0 tackles for loss last season, after combining for 8.0 sacks and 9.0 tackles for loss in his first two seasons at Illinois.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WZTV) — Tennessee employers laid off more than 8,500 workers in 2025 compared to 7,320 last year, according to the Tennessee Department of Labor & Workforce Development.
This is about a 19% increase in layoffs, with WARN notices impacting 8,691 Tennesseans to date. As of 2023, 5,168 Tennessee workers were laid off through WARN notices.
Counties in Middle Tennessee impacted include:
- Davidson
- Sumner
- Maury
- Rutherford
- Williamson
- Wilson
- Coffee
- DeKalb
- Bedford
- Lawrence
- Putnam
The largest layoff this year was in Maury County. Come January, 710 employees will be laid off from GM Ultium Cells’ Spring Hill facility. Research Assistant Professor at the University of Tennessee Knoxville Michael Kofoed tells FOX 17 News that the facility is is likely impacted by the rise on steel tariffs ruled out by the Trump administration. He adds steel tariffs raise input costs for employers which directly impacts employees’ salary or employment.
The second largest layoff impacted 658 workers at Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations, LLC in Rutherford County with 615 workers at Vanderbilt University Medical Center permanently laid off. WARN notices are reports a company is required to file with the state to give workers time to find future employment.
Kofoed states that Tennessee is seeing a troubling trend, with layoffs skyrocketing since 2023.
“That is a very big and concerning number,” Kofoed said.
According to CNBC, more than 1.1 million U.S. employees were laid off this year, the highest 11-month total since 2020.
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