Newsroom

CLEVELAND, Tenn. -- The Special Investigations Section of the Tennessee Department of Revenue conducted the investigation that led to Eric Wayne Helton, owner of the Aquatic Den, pleading guilty to tax evasion.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Dec. 11, 2025 – Songwriters in all genres of music are encouraged to share their original music, as signups officially open today for the eighth annual statewide Tennessee Songwriters Week. Songwriters can sign up to perform in qualifying rounds all over Tennessee and compete for a chance to play their original music at iconic venues across the state, including The Bluebird Cafe in Nashville. In 2026, the program will celebrate more than 6,000 songwriters who have shared their original music on Tennessee stages since the program launched.

NASHVILLE --- The application period for the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) 2026 Spring Turkey Quota Hunts will be open Dec. 17 through Jan. 7, 2026. Applications can be submitted online at gooutdoorstennessee.com, through the TWRA On The Go mobile app, at TWRA regional offices, or at any TWRA license agent.

Farmers and forest landowners in Tennessee who continue to recover from losses brought on by Hurricane Helene will soon have the opportunity to apply for block grants made possible by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and administered by the Tennessee Department of Agriculture (TDA).

The Oscar L. Farris Agricultural Museum Association has been awarded a $17,365 Tennessee America 250 Grant from the Tennessee Commission for the United States Semiquincentennial. This Exhibitions and Programs Grant will support new museum experiences that celebrate Tennessee’s agricultural heritage while commemorating America’s 250th anniversary.

NASHVILLE – Tennessee’s unemployment rate held steady in September at 3.6%, according to data from the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development (TDLWD). The release of September’s data was delayed because of the impact to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics during the federal government shutdown.

Agriculture Commissioner Andy Holt is announcing the latest recipients of funding through the Agricultural Enterprise Fund (AEF). AEF supports projects that grow Tennessee agriculture by increasing farm income, expanding markets, boosting capacity, or advancing innovation.

NASHVILLE ---- The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) is reminding hunters to remain vigilant and take appropriate precautions for possible cases of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) among wild birds, backyard domestic flocks, and commercial poultry flocks in the Southeast. HPAI is highly contagious among bird populations and is known to be deadly for domestic fowl.