NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WZTV) — President Donald Trump has approved a major disaster declaration for Tennessee, Gov. Bill Lee announced Friday, making federal resources available to help residents recover from the recent winter storm.

Lee thanked the president for the approval, saying it will support recovery efforts and ensure federal assistance is available to Tennesseans affected by the storm.

The declaration allows for a range of federal support, including aid to individuals and households, public assistance for local governments, and resources for debris removal and emergency protective measures.

Lee described the approval as critical for communities still recovering from the storm, which caused widespread power outages, property damage, and travel disruptions across the state.

The Kentucky Wildcats and Tennessee Volunteers are set to face each other once again on Saturday, this time in Rupp Arena. In the first matchup between the two, Kentucky basketball overcame a 17-point deficit down in Knoxville to leave with an 80-78 victory over Tennessee. It was an incredible gritty win and the Wildcats will look to have more of the same luck, at least from the late portion of that game.

Since the two teams last met, Tennessee has won four games in a row, now sitting at 6-3 in the conference. That record is tied for the third best record in the SEC at the moment. The Volunteers’ four wins came against Alabama and Georgia on the road as well as Auburn and Ole Miss at home. As for Kentucky, they are now 7-3 in the SEC, as they were just 3-2 heading into the last matchup, really searching for that first key win.

In terms of where Kentucky can find success, not much changes in terms of the matchup this time around. Tennessee is still an extremely physical team, with one of the best defenses in the country and best offensive rebounding teams. But, they are also exploitable due to their sloppy defense. In Kentucky’s comeback win, a big reason that the run was so successful was because of Tennessee’s turnover ability. The Wildcats forced seven turnovers while committing just one miscue of their own. They were also brilliant in getting much-needed second-chance points as well. Kentucky really took advantage of vulnerable Tennessee offense, using that to fuel their comeback.

As we get set for the second matchup of the season between Kentucky basketball and Tennessee, ESPN is giving the Wildcats a 56 percent chance to come away with the home victory to earn a regular-season sweep over the Volunteers. Last time, Kentucky came in as underdogs and now, have some confidence in themselves after winning seven of their last eight games. The Wildcats have been a much different team than the were in the last game between the two schools. If Kentucky can create off of turnovers and continue playing intense defense, as well as creating for others on offense, the Wildcats will have a good chance of sweeping Tennessee.

Can Kentucky keep their hot-streak rolling and advance to 12-3 in their last 15 games? They certainly have looked like a different team lately with the product they have put onto the court.

More Kentucky basketball news

DYER COUNTY, Tenn. — If you’ve been around West Tennessee farming, you know there’s one event farmers mark on their calendars every year—and this week, hundreds of them packed the Dyer County fairgrounds for it.

We’re talking about the 2026 West Tennessee grain and soybean producers conference, and it’s become pretty much the place to be for anyone serious about their crops.

It’s no surprise that UT Extension makes this conference a priority. According to Aaron Smith, interim assistant dean of extension, this isn’t just another event on their calendar.

“This is one of our showpiece events for UT Extension. The west tennessee grain conference is one of four main conferences we run for row crop producers across Tennessee, but this is by far our largest—obviously because most of our acreage is in West Tennessee,” said Smith.

And when you walk the floor, you see why. Vendors from all corners of the agriculture industry set up shop, ready to show off the latest products and innovations.

But here’s the thing—farmers don’t just show up for the booths. They’re here to learn. We talked to one local farmer who’s been making this trip for years, and he explained exactly why he can’t miss it.

“I’ve been coming to this for many, many years just to keep up with what’s going on in agriculture. You find out about the new traits, and you learn what you’re going to be dealing with as far as weeds and pest problems year after year,” said Eric Maupin, local farmer.

For farmers like Maupin, who’s spent his whole life working the land, this conference is about something bigger than just picking up tips. It’s about staying connected.

“It’s vital in the Ag community for us to keep up with what’s going on in agriculture on our individual farms. This West Tennessee grain conference brings it right down to us here in West Tennessee,” said Maupin.

Jake McNeal, the UT Extension corn and soybean specialist, says the past couple of years have been tough on West Tennessee farmers. Rainfall has been way down, and that’s created some real challenges.

That’s exactly why events like this matter so much. It’s a chance to learn from the experts and prepare for whatever the next growing season throws at you.

The good news? This annual event stays true to its roots—it’s always free and open to anyone who wants to learn more about farming in West Tennessee.

So whether you’re a seasoned farmer or just curious about agriculture, that’s something worth marking down for next year.

For more news in the Jackson area, click here.