Tennessee
Warming centers open across the Tennessee Valley for winter weather
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WAFF) – The Tennessee Valley is expected to have extremely cold temperatures that could turn into freezing rain or sleet on Monday and Tuesday.
A Winter Storm Warning is in effect for most of the areas that are along and north of the Tennessee River. People who live in north Alabama and southern Middle Tennessee are urged to prepare for hazardous conditions on the roadways that can develop this coming week.
With the temperatures expected to be below freezing, the following warming centers will be open to the public:
Madison County
- The Downtown Rescue Mission at 1400 Evangel Drive NW
- The Salvation Army at 305 Seminole Drive
- It will operate its day shelter Monday through Wednesday from 7:45 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Its overnight shelter will be available Monday through Sunday 6 p.m. until 7:30 a.m.
- The Livin’ Room at 2820 Governors Drive
- It will open Monday at 4 p.m. until Wednesday.
Huntsville city officials said the Huntsville Police Department will be providing transportation to the warming centers on Monday. Individuals can call the non-emergency number at 256-722-7100 to request a ride.
DeKalb County
The DeKalb County Emergency Management Agency (EMA) has coordinated with partners throughout the community to open warming centers. The agency said for people to access the following facilities to call the EMA Duty Officer at 256-845-8569.
- Mentone Rescue Squad — next to the Mentone Community Center at 5951 Alabama Hwy 117.
- Ider Community Center — at the intersection of Alabama Highway 117 and Dogwood Drive.
- Henagar Community Center — in Henagar Park near the swimming pool complex.
- The Upper Sand Mountain Parrish — on Alabama Highway 75 in Sylvania.
- Rainsville/Plainview High School Saferoom — on the campus of Plainview High School.
- Fyffe Church of God — at the Fyffe Softball Field Complex behind Fyffe High School.
- Geraldine First Baptist Church — at 12830 Alabama Highway 227, Geraldine, AL
- Crossville Community Center — near the Crossville Police Department.
- Collinsville Fire Department — 545 N Valley Ave, Collinsville, AL.
Colbert County
The Colbert County EMA announced warming centers that will be open beginning Sunday afternoon:
- Cherokee Community Shelter – 1211 2nd St., Cherokee
- Ford City Community Shelter – 14439 County Line Rd., Muscle Shoals
- Leighton Community Shelter – 8856 Main St., Leighton
- Littleville Community Shelter – 1448 Jackson Hwy., Littleville
- Sheffield Rec Center – 2901 NE 19th Ave., Sheffield
The agency said the locations will not be manned. There will be regular patrols and walk-throughs by local law enforcement.
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Tennessee
Sick and tired: Counties near Chattanooga are now reporting highest flu rates in Tennessee
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn — Tennessee health officials say flu activity is rising sharply in around Chattanooga, with counties surrounding Hamilton showing some of the highest rates in the state.
Marion, Grundy, Sequatchie, Bradley, Meigs, Rhea, Bledsoe, McMinn and Polk counties are currently the only areas in Tennessee rated “very high” for influenza activity by the Tennessee Dept. of Health. Photo via the Tennessee Health Dept.
Marion, Grundy, Sequatchie, Bradley, Meigs, Rhea, Bledsoe, McMinn and Polk counties are currently the only areas in Tennessee rated “very high” for influenza activity by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
These counties have flu positivity rates greater than 10 percent. By comparison, the statewide average is 6.5 percent, and Hamilton County itself is at 6.9 percent.
State and federal health experts say the surge comes as influenza A(H3N2) continues to circulate widely. The CDC reports at least 11 million flu illnesses, 120,000 hospitalizations, and 5,000 deaths nationwide so far this season. One pediatric death was reported this week in Tennessee, bringing the season total to nine nationwide.
File photo: Getty Images.
Georgia officials are also reporting higher-than-average flu activity, signaling that the region is experiencing a particularly active season. Health authorities encourage residents six months and older to get vaccinated if they have not already and to take precautions such as frequent handwashing and staying home when sick.
Flu activity is expected to remain elevated in Tennessee and across the U.S. for several more weeks, according to the CDC. Local hospitals and clinics are urging families to monitor symptoms and seek care early, especially for children, older adults, and those with chronic health conditions.
For the latest guidance on influenza vaccination and antiviral treatments, visit the Tennessee Department of Health or the CDC at cdc.gov.
Tennessee
Tennessee launches country’s first public database tracking domestic abusers
Tennessee launched the country’s first-ever public database tracking and listing convicted domestic abusers as part of a ratified law honoring a sheriff’s deputy who was murdered by her abusive ex-boyfriend.
The database, which officially launched on Jan. 1, includes offenders’ names, photos and dates of birth and is part of Savanna’s Law. The bill was signed into law by Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee in May 2025 and required the state to establish the registry in Savanna Puckett’s name.
Puckett, a 22-year-old Robertson County Sheriff’s deputy, was tragically killed by her ex-boyfriend, James Conn, at her home on Jan. 23, 2022. Conn had a lengthy history of domestic assault arrests that Puckett had no knowledge of before they began dating.
Conn shot Puckett in the torso and head before he set her home on fire. He pleaded guilty to her murder in August 2023 and was sentenced to life in prison.
Puckett’s distraught mother, Kim Dodson, was determined to save other domestic abuse victims from her daughter’s fate and began pushing state lawmakers for change.
She was a staunch advocate for the bill’s passage and said that if the registry had existed sooner, her daughter might still be alive.
“I was just horrified when I finally saw all those records because I know Savanna well enough that she would have never dated him. I honestly, honestly, honestly feel that if she had known that she could still be here,” Dodson told WSMV.
The domestic abuser registry is run through the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and lists anyone in the state who has been convicted of at least two domestic violence-related charges, according to the website.
However, the offender’s registration is dependent on the accusing victim. If the victim doesn’t consent to their abuser’s name being included, then the offender can bypass the registry.
The database doesn’t include info on offenders convicted before the new year, so the current list is limited. But it was made in the mirror image of the state’s sex offender registry, which is more fleshed out with decades-worth of listings.
The sex offender registry includes a rolling queue of “wanted violators” and a “map of offenders.”
Tennessee has previously ranked among the top 10 states with the most domestic violence homicides. In 2019, it tied for fifth with South Carolina in a separate list detailing the states with the highest femicide rates, WTVF reported.
Tennessee
Cam Ward injury update: Titans QB out after shoulder injury vs. Jaguars
Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Tennessee Titans pre-game analysis, prediction
Florida Times-Union Jacksonville Jaguars beat reporter Demetrius Harvey breaks down what the team needs to do to beat the Tennessee Titans in Week 18.
Tennessee Titans quarterback and former Miami star Cam Ward exited the Week 18 game against the Jacksonville Jaguars with a shoulder injury, sustained during a first-quarter touchdown run at EverBank Stadium on Jan. 4.
The Titans initially listed Ward as questionable to return, before declaring him out late in the first quarter. Up until the injury, the rookie quarterback had appeared in every offensive snap during the regular season for last-place Tennessee.
While rounding right end and diving for the end zone, Ward absorbed a hard hit from Jaguars linebacker Foye Oluokun as he also struck the ground just inside the end zone pylon. The rush gave the Titans a short-lived 7-0 lead.
Ward entered the medical tent after the injury, and Tennessee medical staff subsequently escorted him to the locker room.
The rookie from Miami had completed 24 of 38 passes for 141 yards when the Titans played Jacksonville on Nov. 30, a 25-3 Jaguars win. At Miami, Ward was a finalist for the 2024 Heisman Trophy, which ultimately went to Colorado receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter, now with the Jaguars but also out due to injury.
Former Jaguars quarterback Brandon Allen entered the game in Ward’s place on the next series. The Jags drafted Allen in the sixth round (No. 201) in 2016, although he never appeared in a regular-season game for Jacksonville.
With a victory, the Jaguars would clinch the AFC South and a first-round home assignment for the playoffs. The Titans were eliminated from postseason contention weeks ago.
(This story has been updated to add new information.)
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