Tennessee
TACIR draft show latest transportation act to slow down infrastructure needs, not reverse them – Tennessee Lookout
Tennessee’s transportation infrastructure needs have grown almost every year since 2008, reports compiled by the state’s intergovernmental advisory agency show.
Over that period, lawmakers have partially addressed the backlog by raising the gas tax in 2017 and dedicating $3 billion in surplus funds to it in 2023.
A draft of the latest Tennessee Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations (TACIR) infrastructure needs report shows the state has over $68.3 billion in infrastructure needs with around $34.7 billion in transportation infrastructure needs. A draft of the report, which TACIR releases annually, was made available earlier this week ahead of a commission meeting scheduled for Thursday, where it is expected to receive approval.
The state’s transportation needs leveled off this year compared to last because the state passed the Transportation Modernization Act, dedicating $3 billion to road building. Overall, the Tennessee Department of Transportation says it can leverage the state funds into another $12 billion in transportation infrastructure contributions from the federal government and will spend $600 million annually as part of its normal budget on infrastructure needs.
The act does not include any funding for public transportation, focusing instead on road building, and includes a plan for the state to create toll lanes.
On Wednesday, TDOT officials told the Senate Transportation Committee it plans to spend $2.7 billion of the act’s allocation by 2028, at which point infrastructure spending will once again fall off.
Per TACIR, transportation infrastructure needs have grown at an average of 4.69% each year since 2008. With the modernization act Tennessee should see a slight decline in its needs, but the legislation only addresses part of the state’s long term needs, a point the transportation department has acknowledged in past reports.
WASHINGTON COUNTY, Tenn. (WCYB) — The Washington County, Tennessee Isaiah 117 House hosted a fundraiser event Tuesday to help support area children who are entering the foster care system.
The event took at Boones Creek Christian Church where organizers hope to raise around $20,000 to go towards funds for the house and raise awareness for the organization.
The organization which began in the Tri-Cities now has more than 60 houses in 13 states.
The group helps care for children who are entering foster care while they are waiting on their foster placement.
“We feel like we have an obligation to continue to do this for the generations to come, for the children who haven’t been born yet,” Washington County Isaiah 1:17 House Support Coordinator Katie Wilt said. “We know they are going to need us. We wish they didn’t but we know that they are, so part of this luncheon is to fundraise to make sure that we are able to sustain the care and the hope for the children of the future.”
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NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WZTV) — Gov. Bill Lee and First Lady Maria Lee have wrapped up a yearlong, statewide America 250 tour that spotlighted Tennessee’s role in the nation’s history.
The tour, themed “Tennessee: The Original Frontier”, highlighted people, places and events tied to Tennessee’s contributions to America. Over the past year, Lee visited all 95 counties as part of the effort to commemorate the milestone with Tennesseans across the state.
Over the past year, Maria and I have traveled from Mountain City to Memphis, and we’ve been reminded that our state’s greatest strength is its people,” Lee said. “As America prepares to celebrate 250 years of independence, Tennesseans can take pride in the Volunteer Spirit carried forward in the individuals, communities, and stories that have helped shape our nation from the very beginning.
The tour concluded in Van Buren County at the same venue where Lee held his first gubernatorial campaign event in 2017, returning to the place where his statewide journey began.
OKLAHOMA CITY — Even though it only needed one win to make the Women’s College World Series finals, Tennessee softball managed its pitching staff in expectation of playing two games.
The No. 7 seed Lady Vols (49-12) were eliminated from the WCWS in the semifinals by taking back-to-back losses to No. 2 seed Texas (51-12) at Devon Park on June 1, ending their season. They lost the first game 5-2 and the second game 4-0.
Tennessee used each of its top three pitchers in the games, starting Erin Nuwer (15-1, 1.04 ERA) in Game 1 and Karlyn Pickens (15-8, 1.70 ERA) in Game 2. Sage Mardjetko (16-3, 1.45 ERA) also pitched in Game 1.
“Knowing what could be on the horizon, I think you almost have to plan for the possibility of two games,” Tennessee coach Karen Weekly said. “You’re hoping to go out there and win it in one.”
Nuwer pitched the first two innings of Game 1, long enough to get through Texas’ full batting order once. Mardjetko then relieved Nuwer. Weekly said she made that decision because of how well Mardjetko did against Texas in the Lady Vols’ WCWS opening win against the Longhorns on May 28.
In that game, Mardjetko pitched four scoreless innings, giving up just one hit and two walks with a strikeout. She didn’t have the same success in the semifinals, allowing four runs on six hits and two walks in 2⅓ innings.
“Sage did such a good job against them the other day,” Weekly said. “So, we got exactly what we wanted out of Erin. We wanted her to get us one time through the lineup without any damage, and she did, and then hand it over to Sage.”
At the start of the fifth inning, Pickens began warming up in the bullpen. Mardjetko didn’t get pulled until later in the inning, after giving up a home run, a double, a walk and two singles that amounted to three runs. However, instead of putting Pickens in, Weekly elected to go back to Nuwer.
“Just staying ready,” Pickens said of her bullpen activity. “Never know when you might go into a game. Yeah, that’s my job. It’s not my job to decide when I go in, so just stay ready.”
Weekly said she was planning on putting Pickens in if Tennessee took the lead which never happened. Pickens instead started Game 2, pitching the entire game and allowing four runs, seven hits and three walks with six strikeouts in six innings.
“You kind of have to balance how many bullets are you going to use in Game 1 if you get to Game 2?” Weekly said. “You want to get to Game 2 and have a good plan with your pitching staff. I felt like we got to Game 2 with a good plan. We got to Game 2 with a rested Karlyn, and pitching wasn’t so much the problem today. We just didn’t mount an offensive threat.”
Tia Reid covers Jackson State sports for the Clarion Ledger. Email her at treid@usatodayco.com and follow her on X @tiareid65.
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