Tennessee State News

Tennesseans want more done to keep past unemployment delays from haunting new extension

Thu, 25 Feb 2021 02:38:38 +0000

Questions over what happens when the latest federal unemployment extension expires have some concerns that the same backlog problems of the past will make their way to the future.Eula Thomas is a single mother and on Monday, she contacted our offices to find help with what she suspected was fraudulent activity on her claim.Thomas noticed much of her information had been changed and worried this could be why her claim had taken so long to process.We helped Thomas get in contact with the state and the very next day, she got the call her family had been waiting on for almost four months.She says it was the first time she had heard from the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development to sort out the issue. Thomas was told to send a few extra documents and before long her claim would enter the queue for processing.“The waiting game has been a process. I know they are trying to do the best that they can as quickly as they can, but there are so many people who are suffering while they’re waiting. Especially people with families,” Thomas said.Thomas says she doesn’t talk finances with her children, but she knows they understand the pressure she’s under to find an answer.She would take a new job, but again she’s concerned it may disqualify her from the money she’s already entitled to.“If I receive a job offer today and accept tomorrow, do I get the back-pay I’ve been waiting on all these months,” Thomas said.In all this waiting, we’ve seen unemployment extensions come and go. The latest extension signed into effect December 2020, expires on March 14th.Thomas says the question is, will we see the same delays again? The last time we saw a new unemployment extension, Tennessee saw more than 25,000 duplicate claims. State officials explained misinformation lead claimants to reapply when they were supposed to certify their claims.We asked if more can be done now to prevent these problems in the future and state officials sent us this statement:“State unemployment departments have no control over the federal programs or their expiration dates. We are at the mercy of what Washington decides and when they decide it. States can never fully prepare for the unknown. If there are changes to the programs before the expiration of those programs, that give states time to prepare to implement those changes. If the programs lapse again, there is nothing the states can do until they receive implementation guidance from the U.S. Department of Labor.”As for if claimants should expect much more clear instructions on what to do with their claims, we were later told to refer to the above statement:House Democrats are currently working on an unemployment extension which would offer $400/week to run through August. A US House of Rep. Budget Committee passed the $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief bill. We could now see a vote from the House at the end of the is week.The multi-trillion-dollar bill includes $245 billion for federal unemployment benefits and a $1,400 stimulus payment.

Wilson County residents and visitors can now text 9-1-1 for help

Thu, 25 Feb 2021 00:48:20 +0000

Everyone knows if you're in an emergency, call 9-1-1. But what do you do if calling isn't an option? A safer alternative for people in Wilson County could mean help is just a text message away."So texting 9-1-1 is an option in the event that a voice call can't be made or should not be made," said Public Information Officer and Emergency Communications Officer for Wilson County 911, Bridgett Clark.Whether you're hard of hearing, unable to speak into the phone, or it's just too dangerous to speak out loud- texting may be the safest option."The alert for a text message coming into our facility is different than a voice call so we know that we have a text message and it's handled as quickly as any other call. So they are a top priority just the same as a voice call," said Clark.If you do decide to text 9-1-1, first responders say there is crucial information that you must remember to include in the text. "You simply put the 9-1-1 in the telephone number line and then you type in your message. That message should be that whatever emergency it is is going on and your location- your location is the most important information you can get to us," said Clark. Wilson is now the 10th county in the state to unveil the option. So if you try to text 9-1-1 outside of Wilson County, be aware your text might not go through. "So we say call if you can, but text if you must," said Clark.Wilson County 911 also suggests you download the "Smart911" app on your cell phone so that first responders can be better equipped with information about you when responding to your emergency.

Mayor's statements alert Tennessee health officials of 'more significant violations' in Shelby Co. vaccine management

Thu, 25 Feb 2021 00:36:04 +0000

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (WREG/WKRN) — This week the Tennessee Department of Health provided information on the investigation of reported wastage of COVID-19 vaccine by the Shelby County Health Department, which found seven incidents of vaccine waste, amounting to more than 2,400 wasted doses. The investigation also uncovered an excess of about 30,000 doses

Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris said he still had confidence in the leadership of the health department and the county’s side of the story hadn’t been told.

“There was 50,000 doses on the shelf. But a lot of those doses were for teacher vaccinations and for missed appointments, so a lot of this story hasn’t been told,” Harris said. “So we’re going to tell this story and put out the right information.”

Wednesday afternoon, Tennessee Health Commissioner Dr. Lisa Piercey released a statement saying Mayor Harris's comments alerted them to more significant violations in the county’s vaccine program.

“With today’s confirmation of stockpiling the vaccine, the mayor‘s statements have alerted us to yet another significant violation with the Shelby County Health Department’s vaccine management. These statements reflect that vaccines were inappropriately withheld from an in-phase population over the course of several weeks. Stockpiling for a later phase is not authorized, and this action unnecessarily prohibited high-risk elderly individuals from receiving their fair share of this limited and life-saving resource.”

The head of the Shelby County Health Department said Wednesday that corrective measures are underway after the state found numerous problems with its COVID-19 vaccine distribution system. Dr. Alisa Haushalter said they have already made some personnel changes and are actively looking to review and adopt state policies. The health department is also working closely with the state to finalize a remediation plan.

From availability to current phases, find vaccine information for every Tennessee county using News 2’s Vaccine Tracker map.

College professors are excluded from the COVID-19 priority phases in TN, KY

Thu, 25 Feb 2021 00:24:12 +0000

While Tennessee and Kentucky are prioritizing vaccinations for educators, that doesn't extend to everyone in that field. In both states, only K-12 teachers qualify. College faculty were excluded, despite guidance to the contrary from the CDC. "I mean, we feel dismissed, I would say," said Katie Foss, a Middle Tennessee State University professor in the College of Media and Entertainment that specializes in Health Communication. "Things should be data driven and this is clearly not."Foss says that state health leaders have a lesson to learn about what she sees every day. "Higher education instructors teach multiple classes with a lot of pools of students coming in and out, week after week. So that’s a lot of exposure to a lot of different students," she said.That's why she assumed Tennessee would follow CDC guidelines, recommending all educators get priority consideration for the COVID-19 vaccine, directly following healthcare workers. Instead, college professors were excluded from all priority phases. "It deliberately excludes faculty," said Foss.So why not college professors?The Tennessee Department of Health's spokesperson sent the following statement to NewsChannel 5:Foss argues that college faculty are at an even greater risk because of the age of their students. "The age group of a typical college student is the age group most likely to be infected with COVID 19," she said.If things don't change, Foss and other faculty members will have to wait until their age bracket qualifies. Just like her own students, Foss hopes state leaders are paying attention. "We are teaching too and many of us are in person, so let’s extend the same precaution to this high exposure group," said Foss.

Tenn. lawmakers want to ban student-athletes from kneeling during the National Anthem

Thu, 25 Feb 2021 00:07:13 +0000

East Tennessee State University basketball players took a knee during the National Anthem at a game to address racial injustice, and now a group of lawmakers wants to keep it from happening again.Many believe taking a knee disrespects our country and those who died defending it, including several Tennessee lawmakers. A group of Tennessee Republicans sent a letter to public universities asking them to prohibit the act of kneeling during the anthem. Lipscomb University constitutional law expert Dr. Susan Turney Haynes says the situation is tricky. "This particular situation has a lot of first amendment implications," Haynes said. "The letter calls them ‘ambassadors’ right? Ambassadors of the university and therefore ambassadors of the state and then that gets complicated - to say that they are public actors and therefore representing the government in effect."Members of the Senate Democratic Caucus issued a statement saying students have the right to express their opinions, and shouldn't stand in the way of free speech:“Our public colleges and universities should be a safe place for students to express themselves and advocate peacefully for change in our country without interference from the legislature or university administrators. In fact, student organizing on college campuses is a perfect reflection of the American values embedded in our First Amendment. Rather than silencing the voices of students who are peacefully bringing attention to injustice in our country, we should all be working together to address the inequities that brought them to a knee.”Haynes said, "This is something that is kind of ripe for a legal challenge to be honest because while the NFL cases and etc. are kind of open and shut, this gets us into mirky constitutional waters."Dr. Haynes said the Supreme Court has ruled that students have protections. "But once they put on that uniform, get on the court, get on the field, and represent collegiate student-athlete, there’s no court precedent to suggest that they shed their constitutional rights at that point.”Governor Bill Lee also addressed the topic. He said, "I think that the national anthem is a great opportunity for Americans to participate in something that's unifying. I think it's deeply unfortunate and disappointing to take that moment to protest. It creates divisiveness in the midst of a time that ought to be unifying.”It's unclear how colleges will respond to the letter. The ACLU issued a statement about it here.

‘Limited vaccine availability’ across Tennessee as sites remain busy

Wed, 24 Feb 2021 23:23:53 +0000

SUMNER COUNTY, Tenn. (WKRN) — More than 1.1 million Tennesseans have been vaccinated and the state has moved into the next phase of vaccinations, but the question remains as to how long the supply will last.

COVID-19 distribution sites are busy across Middle Tennessee, making up for last week's cancellations due to weather.

“We've been working really hard with the health department, with the National Guard, EMS, police departments, fire departments and we are really working to try to get as many people vaccinated as we can,” Sumner County EMA Director Ken Weidner told News 2.

From Sumner to Putnam County, it’s a similar scene in counties across the state.

“We've got a pretty good surge of people coming in today playing catch up, so health department is all hands on deck and we are working on getting them in and getting them out safely,” said Weidner.

Sumner County’s vaccine supply is good as they’ve moved from a ‘trickle supply to a flow.’

“The vaccine supply has been our limiting factor. I understand they are getting ready to start increasing vaccines and hopefully with vaccines going into other locations; doctors' offices, pharmacies, things like that, it will ease some of the load on the local health department.”

The state says there is limited vaccine availability in every county across the state. However, they are expecting a shipment of 125,000 this week.

From availability to current phases, find vaccine information for every Tennessee county using News 2’s Vaccine Tracker map.

Stay with News 2 for continuing coverage of the COVID-19 Pandemic.

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Columbia man accused of shooting his 8-month-old child

Wed, 24 Feb 2021 22:52:43 +0000

Columbia Police officers arrested a man they say fired shots into a vehicle, hitting his eight-month-old child.Officers arrested 21-year-old Kobia Eugene Lloyd Jr. Wednesday for the alleged shooting on Saturday, Feb. 20.Police officials say Lloyd was in an altercation with a 21-year-old woman, the mother of his three children, when he shot at the vehicle she was in with the 2-year-old, one-year-old and eight-month-old.The 8-month-old was hit in the head. The child was transported to Maury Regional Medical Center then transferred to Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt by air. The child is currently listed in critical but stable condition.Lloyd was arrested on four counts of attempted first-degree murder, felony reckless endangerment, and aggravated child endangerment.

Whataburger officially opening first Nashville-area location this fall

Wed, 24 Feb 2021 22:44:18 +0000

Whataburger has officially announced plans to open its first location in the Nashville area this fall. The beloved Texas burger chain is set to open in Hermitage at 5055 Old Hickory Boulevard and plans to open additional locations in the Nashville area in 2022. The company did not release an exact opening date. NewsChannel 5 previously learned Middle Tennessee may be getting five locations in total: Murfreesboro, Gallatin, Lebanon, Madison and Hermitage. Whataburger is now looking to hire more than 200 employees this year, including positions such as restaurant manager, general manager and area manager. Hiring for team members will begin in the summer. Those interested in applying can click here for more information. The journey to bring Whataburger back to Middle Tennessee has been long-awaited since the company closed its Nashville franchises in the 1970s.

Coronavirus in Tennessee: 1,631 COVID cases, 68 deaths reported Feb. 24

Wed, 24 Feb 2021 21:33:20 +0000

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) – The Tennessee Department of Health released its COVID-19 update for Wednesday, February 24.

Cases

The department reported 1,631 new cases, putting the state at 768,946 total cases, with 645,002 confirmed and 123,944 probable.

There are currently 14,426 active COVID-19 cases in the state, the lowest number of active cases since October 4, 2020 (14,229).

Tennessee’s seven-day new cases average is currently 1,235 additional cases per day (+11% change since the previous day), while the 14-day new cases average is 1,324 (-7% change since the previous day).

Deaths

TDH confirmed 68 additional deaths, bringing the state up to 11,266 total deaths. The state has added 1,616 deaths so far in the month of February, with an average of 67 additional deaths per day. February currently ranks as Tennessee's third deadliest month of the pandemic (#1 January: 2,743; #2 December: 2,305).

Inactive/Recovered

Out of the total positive cases, 743,254 are listed as inactive/recovered, an increase of 2,197 in the last 24 hours.

Hospitalizations

Earlier in the day, the state reported 972 people are currently hospitalized in Tennessee due to COVID-19.

Floor Bed Availability: There are 1,836 (16%) available floor beds in the state, down 2% from the previous day's report.

ICU Bed Availability: There are 278 (14%) available ICU beds in the state, down 16% from the previous day's report.

Vaccine Tracker

Vaccination registration for residents aged 65 and older and those in Phase 1b of the state’s COVID-19 Vaccination Plan is now underway in 90 of the state’s 95 counties.

From availability to current phases, find vaccine information for every Tennessee county using News 2’s Vaccine Tracker map.

TDH has also launched a new online scheduling tool to allow users to book their appointment for COVID-19 vaccination at participating health department sites when they are eligible to do so. Tennesseans can access the system at covid19.tn.gov and select their county to schedule an appointment.

Shelby County 'Vaccine Wastage' Investigation

On Tuesday, the Tennessee Department of Health provided information on the investigation of reported wastage of COVID-19 vaccine by the Shelby County Health Department which found seven incidents of vaccine waste, amounting to more than 2,400 wasted doses.

Man shot and killed near West End in Nashville

Wed, 24 Feb 2021 21:21:56 +0000

A man was shot and killed near Nashville's West End Wednesday afternoon.Metro Nashville Police officials say a 38-year-old man was shot in the head in the parking lot of Resha's Bi-Rite Market on 25th Avenue.They say multiple shots were fired from the alley behind the building at a group of people standing in the parking lot, and they don't know who was being targeted. Officers are searching for the other group members who witnessed the shooting.No suspect details were released.

Heavy rain possible Friday into the weekend

Wed, 24 Feb 2021 21:02:33 +0000

After the bitter winter chill last week, we will see a soaking end to the month of February!Soak up the sunshine and warmer weather on Wednesday. Highs Wednesday afternoon will be back in the upper 60s to low 70s. A weak cold front will move in Wednesday night and bring a quick round of showers through early Thursday morning.This round will only bring a quick splash of rainfall to the area, and temperatures will be back in the 50s by Thursday.This front will stall to our south on Thursday before moving back north over our area Friday. Waves of heavy rain will be possible Friday through the weekend as the front hangs out around the Mid-State. Right now the heaviest rain looks to arrive Sunday into Monday.The ground is already soaked from recent winter weather, so flooding will be something we will monitor until early next week. Right now it looks like some areas could pick up on 4-6 inches of rainfall. Make sure to have our Storm Shield app downloaded to get weather alerts sent straight to your phone.

Man shot, killed in Nashville, investigation underway

Wed, 24 Feb 2021 20:33:39 +0000

Metro Nashville police are investigating a shooting that killed a man late Tuesday night. Officers said a citizen reported seeing a man slumped over in the driver's seat of a vehicle parked on the wrong side of Morrison Street that had hit another vehicle. A nearby resident told officers they heard gunshots just before 11 p.m.When police arrived, they found 32-year-old David Hernandez with his foot still on the gas pedal. He had been shot in the head and was pronounced dead at the scene. Evidence recovered from the scene suggests the shots were fired from inside the vehicle. Detectives are actively investigating the shooting and ask anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers at 615-742-7463.

Tennessee to remove COVID visitation restrictions for long-term care facilities

Wed, 24 Feb 2021 19:57:20 +0000

The Tennessee Department of Health announced that the state specific visitation restrictions for long-term care facilities will end on Feb. 28.TDOH announced the update Wednesday, saying 100% of Tennessee’s nursing homes and skilled nursing facilities have completed both doses of COVID-19 vaccinations. Additionally, the state said vaccinations at its assisted care living facilities and residential homes are set to be finished this week. Health officials acknowledged the “extraordinary challenges” that long-term care facilities have faced during the COVID-19 pandemic.“The health and safety of vulnerable Tennesseans, especially our long-term care residents, remains our top priority, and our comprehensive and persistent efforts to protect this population from COVID-19 have saved lives,” said Tennessee Health Commissioner Dr. Lisa Piercey. “Now that vaccinations at all long-term care facilities are nearing completion, we are ready to transition to a more sustainable approach of following these best practices for safe operation of long-term care facilities in Tennessee.”TDOH said facilities should use the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) guidance for safe operation and visitation, with limited visitation restrictions no longer in place at the state level. According to the CMS guidance, nursing homes may allow indoor visitation when there has been no new onset of cases in the last 14 days and the facility is not currently conducting outbreak testing.

Tennessee removes visitation restrictions for long-term care facilities

Wed, 24 Feb 2021 19:54:00 +0000

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) – On Wednesday, the Tennessee Department of Health announced state-specific visitation restrictions for long-term care facilities will come to an end effective February 28, 2021. Facilities are asked to use the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services guidance for safe operation and visitation with limited visitation restrictions no longer in place at the state level.

TDH recognizes the extraordinary challenges long-term care facilities, their residents and the family members and caregivers of these particularly vulnerable Tennesseans have faced during the COVID-19 pandemic, a release from the department states. As a result of the federal long-term care facility pharmacy partnership, 100 percent of Tennessee’s nursing homes and skilled nursing facilities have completed both doses of COVID-19 vaccinations, and Tennessee’s assisted care living facilities and residential homes for the aged are projected to be completed this week.

“The health and safety of vulnerable Tennesseans, especially our long-term care residents, remains our top priority, and our comprehensive and persistent efforts to protect this population from COVID-19 have saved lives,” said TN Health Commissioner Lisa Piercey, MD, MBA, FAAP in the statement. “Now that vaccinations at all long-term care facilities are nearing completion, we are ready to transition to a more sustainable approach of following these best practices for safe operation of long-term care facilities in Tennessee.”

Guidance for Visitation

The guidance issued by CMS provides reasonable ways a nursing home can safely facilitate in-person visits to address residents’ social and emotional needs. Certified Medicare and Medicaid facilities should continue to follow the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Visitation Guidance. Per this guidance, nursing homes may allow indoor visitation when there has been no new onset of COVID-19 cases in the last 14 days and the facility is not currently conducting outbreak testing.

Long-term care facilities licensed by the state, which include Tennessee assisted care living facilities, residential homes for the aged and any nursing home not certified by CMS, should reference industry best practices including CMS Visitation Guidance and review related laws and rules when developing their own facility-specific visitation policies and procedures.

The CMS guidance outlines how facilities may expand communal dining and other group activities, provided infection control policies are followed. Even as COVID-19 case counts decline, facilities should remain vigilant in monitoring for COVID-19 cases among residents and staff members through appropriate screening and testing. Facilities may test visitors, which is encouraged, but not required.

Additional resources on infection control practices from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are available here.

Kroger to offer COVID vaccine at 115 of its Tennessee pharmacies

Wed, 24 Feb 2021 19:30:25 +0000

Kroger Health has announced that it’s received a limited supply of the COVID-19 vaccine for 115 of its pharmacies across Tennessee. The company announced Wednesday that it received doses of the vaccine through its participation in the Federal Retail Pharmacy Partnership. It will begin administering the vaccine in accordance with the state and local heath departments’ rollout plan. “We are strongly encouraging all customers and associates to receive the vaccine to curb the spread of COVID-19 in our communities. Through the launch of our new scheduling took and COVID Help Line, Kroger is doing everything it can to ensure our communities have access to the vaccine as it becomes available. The company recently announced a one-time payment of $100 to all associates who receive the full manufacturer-recommended dose when it becomes available to them through the appropriate phase guideline,” said Jeremy Crain, health and wellness leader for the Kroger Nashville division.Tennessee is currently in phase 1b of its vaccination rollout, which includes teachers, child care workers and the 65 and up age group. However, individual counties are moving at a different pace. For example, Metro said it would begin vaccinations for those 65 and older once they make more progress with the 70 and older group. Click here for more information about your county. You can make an appointment with Kroger by visiting kroger.com/covidvaccine or by calling 866-211-5320.

TDOT begins filling potholes left over from winter storm

Wed, 24 Feb 2021 18:37:10 +0000

Crews with the Tennessee Department of Transportation have begun repairing potholes that emerged in Middle and West Tennessee following last week's winter storm. TDOT said crews will be using a cold mix asphalt to fill the potholes for now. The department said it may be spring or early summer before more permanent repairs are made with a hot mix of asphalt.Drivers are being warned of possible traffic delays in areas where crews are working. TDOT said crews will focus on performing repairs during off-peak travel times, but some lane closures could last through the late afternoon, evening and weekends. The department has an online form where drivers can report potholes on interstates and state highways. Click here to fill out the form.

TDOT launches massive effort to repair potholes caused by winter storm

Wed, 24 Feb 2021 18:32:34 +0000

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) - The Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) is working to fix potholes created by the brutal winter storm last week.

According to a press release, TDOT is launching a massive effort to repair them.

Crews will be patching potholes over the coming days and weeks. They are using cold mix asphalt to repair the holes now. Some asphalt plants will open and allow crews to use hot mix, for a more permanent repair.

However, it may be spring or summer before those repairs are made. Some crews will work on interstates while others will focus on state routes.

Drivers should prepare for traffic delays during the time of repairs. Some lane closures may extend into the late afternoon, evening and weekends. TDOT reminds drivers to move over and slow down.

If you'd like to inform TDOT about a pothole, click here.

Corrective measures underway at Shelby County Health Department after wasted vaccine doses

Wed, 24 Feb 2021 17:54:46 +0000

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (WREG) — The head of the Shelby County Health Department said Wednesday that corrective measures are underway after the state found numerous problems with its COVID-19 vaccine distribution system.

A day after the city took over vaccination efforts, Dr. Alisa Haushalter with the health department said they have already made some personnel changes and are actively looking to review and adopt state policies. The health department is also working closely with the state to finalize a remediation plan.

“We know that things have not gone perfectly,” Haushalter said.

Haushalter said she specifically asked the state to stop distributing vaccines to the local health department until they have exhausted their inventory of vaccine and until they have thoroughly reviewed the policies and personnel.

They are also looking to implement the usage of VaxQueue, which was launched by Shelby County over a month ago.

She said the health department reported the wasted vaccines to the state in a timely manner and blamed the snow storm for the very high inventory.

On Feb. 19, the Shelby County Health Department revealed that 1,315 doses of the vaccine that were set to expire had to be discarded after ice and snow closed vaccination sites.

The Tennessee Department of Health conducted an investigation on the matter and determined the actual number of wasted vaccines was 2,400. The state also said there were 51,000 excess doses on hand, and a lack of record keeping and standard procedures.

According to the state’s findings:

Seven incidents of vaccine waste amounting to more than 2,400 wasted doses
51,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccine in inventory. This amounts to an excess of about 30,000 doses. The goal is to administer the vaccine within seven to 10 days of receipt.
Lack of standard operating procedures for storage and handling of the vaccine
Insufficient record keeping
No formal process for management of soon-to-expire vaccine doses

Haushalter said the county believes the actual number of vaccines on hand was 43,000, and the county was working to reduce that number.

Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris said they are investigating the matter and fired the site manager who managed the relationship with a pharmacist in charge of the vaccine. The county also asked for the pharmacist in charge, who is a contractor and not a county employee, be removed.

From availability to current phases, find vaccine information for every Tennessee county using News 2’s Vaccine Tracker map.

As vaccine rollout continues, AP poll finds a third of adults still skeptical of COVID shots

Wed, 24 Feb 2021 17:30:42 +0000

According to experts, 80% of the population needs a vaccination to get to herd immunity, and with many still reluctant to getting the shot, there is work to be done.A poll from The Associated Press says that a third of U.S. adults are still skeptical of getting the shot, and that within that third, 15% are certain they won't get the vaccine and 17% say probably not.When it comes to herd immunity, Dr. William Schaffner, an infectious disease specialist at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, said we need about 80% of the adult population to be vaccinated and acknowledged that we've never done anything that comprehensive before. So, we have to reach out to those who are skeptical.Reluctance to vaccines is nothing new to adults. Dr. Schaffner said that only two thirds of adults get the flu vaccine each year. He said we have to persuade people to do something that for many of them is quite new and different.“I think it is a mix of things that make people reluctant adults to get vaccines, many adults don't get vaccines routinely, you know, of people aged 65 and older. Each year we vaccinate two thirds of that population against influenza. I said two thirds. That means one third of adults don't take advantage of the influenza vaccine each year. And so, you can see, we have to persuade people to do something that for many of them is quite new and different,” he said.Dr. Schaffner said we can all help out by first getting the vaccine ourselves. He believes those folks will see everyone getting the vaccine and feel more comfortable that it's the normal and appropriate thing for everyone to do."Adults are not eager to get vaccines. Who wants a shot? Right, so we have to encourage them and make them comfortable with the notion. It's for their own protection and the protection of everyone around them. No one wants to be a dreaded spreader. And so that will help motivate people to come in and get vaccinated," he added. Right now, the state reports that a little less than 11% of the population has at least one dose of the vaccine.

Shirley, second oldest elephant in North America, dies at age 72 at Tennessee elephant sanctuary

Wed, 24 Feb 2021 17:01:42 +0000

Shirley, the second oldest elephant in all of North America, has passed away at 72. She retired to The Elephant Sanctuary in Hohenwald, Tennessee in 1999. Shirley defied the odds, living far beyond the life expectancy for an Asian elephant. Veterinary teams had been closely monitoring Shirley over the past several weeks. She weakened to the point where she could no longer stand up. The staff agreed that, as always, Shirley was communicating her needs and wishes — that her time had come and she peacefully passed away.She was born in Sumatra in 1948 and was captured and sold to a circus, where she performed around the world for decades.Eventually, she was sold to a Louisiana Zoo before she ended up at the sanctuary, where she had a joyous reunion with another elephant who had performed with her at that circus years earlier. “The Sanctuary is deeply honored to have provided care for Shirley for 21 years. We thank Shirley’s many supporters, fans, and friends who have shared her story, who have loved her from afar, and who have partnered with us through the years to provide lifetime care and the opportunity for Shirley to know true companionship with other elephants. We learned so much about the dignity and grace of elephants aging in captivity through caring for Shirley, and we will continue to apply this knowledge to help care for all current and future residents. Shirley leaves an enduring legacy marked by a truly remarkable life, and she will be deeply missed by all,” said Janice Zeitlin, CEO of The Elephant Sanctuary.

Death of autism advocate Chris Miller now under investigation; mother seeking answers

Wed, 24 Feb 2021 16:56:30 +0000

You may recognize Chris Miller as Captain Spectrum. He created this alter ego and hero after being bullied at school. Chris attempted suicide at 12 years old, but when he was released from the hospital, he decided to become an advocate for anti-bullying and autism awareness."Christopher is a miracle to the world," said Crystal Miller, his mom.Most recently Chris was taking college classes in Paris, Tennessee at Tennessee College of Applied Technology at Paris.His mother tells NewsChannel5 earlier this month, Chris was in the back of a pick-up putting trash into a dumpster on campus, when the vehicle pulled away and he fell off the back. Chris fractured his skull.He was life-flighted to Vanderbilt University Medical Center and had been at the ICU in a medically induced coma.Days later, unfortunately, Chris passed away. He was 19 years old. Miller is very frustrated that she's not getting any answers about how or why it happened.The Paris Police Department is now investigating Chris' death. Sgt. Derek Colley is the lead detective."We are trying to determine if this was a tragic accident or was there some kind of wrongdoing,” said assistant police chief Ean Reed. "We hope to be bringing this investigation to a close in the near future."Miller has now hired an attorney, Peter Olson.The funeral service for Chris will be held Saturday at Neal-Tarpley-Parchman Funeral Home in Clarksville.Visitation is at 11 a.m., followed by the service at 1 p.m.

Country music star donates to fan's medical bills after post-concert crash

Wed, 24 Feb 2021 16:56:08 +0000

NASHVILLE, Tenn., (WKRN) -- Country music star Carly Pearce has gone above and beyond to help a fan who attended a recent show at a popular Nashville music venue.

Danielle Sparkman, 23, was hoping to meet Pearce once securing her ticket to see the CMA award winner at the Listening Room. Sparkman said it was awesome to see her perform live and even got to smile for a picture after the show.

On her way home to Memphis, the college student was trying to avoid hitting another car when the driver slammed on their brakes. "I swerved to not hit him and when that happened, I lost control completely of the car and it hit a tree," Sparkman said. She added the driver's side of her car was so damaged, she could not open her door.

The country music fan said the crash left her with a broken shoulder and stitches in her arm and face. Sparkman tweeted about the crash a few days after the wreck writing she had a long recovery ahead.

Saturday night was one of the worst days of my life. I’ve got a LONG recovery ahead of me but thank you @carlypearce for putting on one hell of a show that night, I love you!! pic.twitter.com/Z3yRAC3tqq
— Danielle Sparkman (@Thesparkmangirl) February 18, 2021

Pearce's team came across the tweet and set up a zoom call where the artist made a generous contribution to her GoFundMe page to help with her medical bills.

"Not only did she donate, but she donated well over what she should have. She donated $1,000. It's just insane to think because that's a lot of money."

Pearce even broke out her guitar and played a song off her new album that was released on Friday.
Sparkman said this is something she will never forget. "I'm just eternally grateful for everything she has done for me. She knows how grateful I am, but I don't think the magnitude of it can ever be shown."

Feb. 24 COVID-19 update: Metro reports 127 new cases, 4 additional deaths

Wed, 24 Feb 2021 15:34:34 +0000

Metro Public Health officials reported 127 new cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday. The department said four additional deaths were also reported. Davidson County's total number of cases is now at 89,086, with 86,781 of those now considered to be inactive/recovered. Right now, there are 1,678 active cases. Health officials said there have been four new confirmed deaths reported in the past 24 hours -- a 54-year-old woman, a 63-year-old man, a 60-year-old woman and an 82-year-old man, all with underlying health conditions.As of today, 588 people in Davidson County have died after a confirmed case of COVID-19. Including both confirmed and probable cases, 627 deaths have been attributed to COVID-19. New cases per 100,000 people: 16.3Seven-day percent positive of COVID-19 tests: 6.5Available Middle Tennessee hospital beds: 15 percentAvailable Middle Tennessee ICU beds: 13 percentThe MPHD COVID-19 Hotline received 1,015 calls on Tuesday, February 23, 2021.Total number of cases: 89,086Cases reported in the past 24 hours: 127Cases by sexMale: 42,225Female: 46,100Unknown: 761Cases by ageUnknown1420-104,22711-209,07121-3024,86231-4017,29141-5011,81351-6010,00461-706,54871-803,25681+1,872Total89,086Inactive/Recovered86,781Deaths627Total active cases1,678

Feb. 24 COVID-19 update: Tennessee reports 1,631 new cases, 68 deaths

Wed, 24 Feb 2021 15:34:34 +0000

The Tennessee Department of Health reported 1,631 new COVID-19 cases on Wednesday, bringing the total number of known cases in the state to 768,946.Of the total cases, 743,254 are now considered recovered while 14,426 cases remain active. New tests reported have increased more than 26% in the last 24 hours, following a week of closures at many testing sites due to the winter storm. Wednesday's rate of positive new tests is 7.38%.Sixty-eight additional Tennesseans have died from COVID-19. TDH has attributed 11,266 deaths to the virus so far. Hospitals statewide reported 972 current COVID-19 patients overnight. Watch: Gov. Lee press briefing on COVID-19 in Tennessee and other topicsMetro Public Health officials reported 127 new cases of COVID-19 and four additional deaths.Davidson County's total number of cases is now at 89,086, with 86,781 of those now considered to be inactive/recovered. Right now, there are 1,678 active cases.Health officials said there have been four new confirmed deaths reported in the past 24 hours -- a 54-year-old woman, a 63-year-old man, a 60-year-old woman and an 82-year-old man, all with underlying health conditions.As of today, 588 people in Davidson County have died after a confirmed case of COVID-19. Including both confirmed and probable cases, 627 deaths have been attributed to COVID-19.New cases per 100,000 people: 16.3Seven-day percent positive of COVID-19 tests: 6.5Available Middle Tennessee hospital beds: 15 percentAvailable Middle Tennessee ICU beds: 13 percentThe MPHD COVID-19 Hotline received 1,015 calls on Tuesday, February 23, 2021.Total number of cases: 89,086Cases reported in the past 24 hours: 127Cases by sexMale: 42,225Female: 46,100Unknown: 761Cases by ageUnknown1420-104,22711-209,07121-3024,86231-4017,29141-5011,81351-6010,00461-706,54871-803,25681+1,872Total89,086Inactive/Recovered86,781Deaths627Total active cases1,678

Consumer Reports: Top car picks for 2021

Wed, 24 Feb 2021 14:46:17 +0000

Thinking about getting a new car? Consumer Reports has some recommendations. Every year, Consumer Reports does rigorous testing on new vehicles and it surveys car owners all to come up with its annual list of the most exceptional cars on the road. More than 250 models fight for car shoppers’ hearts, minds, and driveways. Which ones are the very best? Consumer Reports annual top picks list sorts through data from more than 50 tests at the Consumer Reports Auto Test Center, as well other factors like predicted reliability, owner satisfaction, and safety equipment."We put thousands of miles on each test car and actually evaluate them for how people actually use them in their day to day lives. To make CR’s list the vehicle must come standard with forward collision warning and automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection," said Mike Quincy, Consumer Reports Auto EditorToyota had a very good year - Its Corolla, Prius and Camry all made the list. As did the Forester and Outback from Subaru. Along with the Mazda CX-30, Lexus RX, Honda Ridgeline and the Kia Telluride.The only American brand on the list this year was the Tesla, with its Model 3.Also new in 2021, a little green leaf was added to the list for vehicles that CR designates a Green Choice. "CR’s Green Choice designation will highlight the top 20% of vehicles on the market with the cleanest emissions. Advances in vehicle technology are increasingly providing cleaner, greener choices and this includes four of our Top Picks," Quincy said. This leaf lets you make a “greener choice” when you consider when buying your next car.In addition to announcing the best cars of the year, Consumer Reports also released its latest annual report card on auto manufacturers and which overall brands make the highest quality and best-performing vehicles. The top overall brands this year were Mazda, Subaru, and Porsche.

Nonprofit says parents are seeing signs of ADHD in kids during pandemic

Wed, 24 Feb 2021 13:46:24 +0000

A non-profit says they are seeing a dramatic increase in parents worried their child has attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).The group Children and Adults with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder says calls to their help line have increased by 62% since the pandemic, and more than half of them are from parents looking for a doctor who specializes in ADHD.So why are parents noticing these problems now? One child psychiatrist says it has to do with the environment. In a classroom, a child has a set of rules and a schedule to follow. While at home, it's just not the same.Now doctors say to actually determine if your child has ADHD, they must show at least six out of 18 symptoms. While it's good to seek professional help, there are some home remedies as well.“The important thing is structure. The person with ADHD has trouble organizing things and following a schedule on their own, so the parent would need to make sure they get up on time that they tune in for the virtual learning on time, the same way, they would get them off to school,” said Dr. L Eugene Arnold, a child and adolescent psychiatrist.Children aren't the only ones having problems focusing during this pandemic. Even adults working from home are struggling. If you'd like to get help from a specialist for yourself or your child, you can call 1-866-200-8098.

Advocates worry homeless communities will be left out of Tennessee's vaccine rollout

Wed, 24 Feb 2021 12:25:24 +0000

As Tennessee's COVID-19 vaccine rollout continues, advocates worry one at-risk group will be left behind."We know that people experiencing homelessness are at greater risk of being exposed because if they're living in a shelter they don't have the ability to social distance, " Bobby Watts said. Watts is the CEO of the National Healthcare for the Homeless Council, which is based in Middle Tennessee. He worries that despite those risk factors, homeless communities may miss out of vaccination efforts -- even as the pandemic has pushed more people onto the streets."And these are individuals at high risk of having some real bad health problems," he explained. Those barriers include a transportation issues, difficulties making appointments, healthcare inequities and a lack of reliable information about vaccines. "We need to have accurate information that tailored to each special population that is delivered by trusted ambassadors," Watts said. Some states have prioritized homeless communities in their vaccine rollout, something that was suggested by the CDC, but Tennessee hasn't. Watts worries if people experiencing homelessness don't get the vaccine, the impacts of the virus will linger both inside, and outside, of encampments. "If we allow a large number of people to not receive preventive vaccinations, then we will still have pockets of the disease throughout our society and that really does affect everyone," he said.

2 arrested for shooting at Knox County deputies, leading chase through 4 counties

Wed, 24 Feb 2021 12:03:03 +0000

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) – Two suspects are in custody after shooting at a Knox County Sheriff’s deputy and engaging in a vehicle pursuit through four counties early Wednesday.

According to the sheriff’s office, a patrol officer attempted to make a traffic stop on Kingston Pike just before 2:30 a.m. Wednesday morning and almost immediately shots were fired at the deputy. A police pursuit which traveled through Knox, Sevier, Jefferson and Hamblen counties ensued.

Officers say they were able to safely stop the suspects in Hamblen County with spike strips around 3 a.m.

The Tennessee Highway Patrol, Sevier, Jefferson and Hamblen County Sheriff’s Offices and White Pine Police assisted in apprehending the suspects.

55-year-old Danny Chavis and 38-year-old Paige Nicholson, both of Loudon County, were taken into custody. A list of charges and bond amounts have not been released as of 5 a.m. Wednesday.

Tennessee: 28 of 95 counties now have paper trail for voting

Wed, 24 Feb 2021 09:49:18 +0000

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Tennessee officials say 28 of 95 counties now have voting machines that leave a paper trail, and more are planning to buy them.

Tennessee Elections Coordinator Mark Goins told a state Senate panel Tuesday the number is up from just three counties in 2010.

Goins says 45% of the votes cast last year had a paper trail.

“Certainly, the marketplace seems to be driving that direction,” Goins said.

Most election security experts consider a paper record as crucial to ensuring accurate vote tallies. Some are pushing for officials to ditch electronic vote-casting altogether in favor of paper ballots filled out by hand and machine-scanned.

In the 2016 presidential election, 14 states used paperless voting machines as the primary polling place equipment in at least some counties and towns. That number dropped further in 2020, with states including Pennsylvania and Georgia moving away from paperless systems. It’s down to about a half-dozen states that have at least some counties using equipment that doesn’t produce a paper trail, according to a map by Verified Voting, which focuses on technology in election administration.

Secretary of State Tre Hargett says he’s encouraging Tennessee counties to buy paper-trail equipment, but can’t require it under current state law.

The Republican said some counties still bought new electronic-only machines in the last few years.

Machines bought with the newest round of federal voting money must have a paper audit trail, though there is still some federal money remaining for Tennessee that doesn’t require it, Hargett said.

In 2018, 14 counties — representing only 556,400 of the state’s 4 million-plus registered voters at the time — used voting equipment with some sort of paper trail.

Among Tennessee’s largest counties, Nashville’s city-county government moved to an electronic paper-producing hybrid machine in 2019; Knox County, which includes Knoxville, changed to paper ballots last year; and Hamilton County, which includes Chattanooga, has had paper ballots for years.

Shelby County, which is anchored by Memphis, is ensnared in a fight over what equipment to buy to replace its electronic-only machines. The local election board, which wants hybrid machines, plans a lawsuit over funding against the county commission, which wants paper ballots.

Senators send letter to universities on kneeling during anthem

Wed, 24 Feb 2021 05:04:31 +0000

Some Republican lawmakers are unhappy with the East Tennessee State University men's basketball team for taking a knee during the National Anthem.The ETSU players knelt during the anthem last week. Several State Senators sent a letter to universities in Tennessee saying the athletes not only represent themselves but also their school and the state. The letter says the lawmakers do not condone any form of protest that could be viewed as disrespectful to our nation or flag while the players are representing the universities. It also asks the universities to prohibit such actions going forward.The ACLU of Tennessee issued the following statement in response:“The ACLU of Tennessee commends the ETSU men's basketball team for using one of our nation's most valuable and practical tools for advocacy – freedom of expression. These young people exercised their constitutional rights to protest systemic racism and police violence. Freedom of expression does not cease to exist if you walk onto a basketball court – especially if you attend a public university. Your ability to protest peacefully does not disappear because of a scholarship, and your First Amendment rights are certainly not tied to lawmakers’ reactions to the content of your speech.“Yesterday, during a Government Operations Committee hearing, state lawmakers used their platform to attack and insult these student-athletes. Tennessee senators doubled down this afternoon and sent a letter to leaders of public colleges and universities to adopt policies within their athletic departments to prohibit peaceful protest.“Such policies would be unconstitutional. The U.S. Supreme Court has long held that neither public schools nor legislators can force their definition of patriotism on students by requiring students to participate in compelled speech. These students can say what they want as long as it does not disrupt the learning process.“When public universities play the national anthem, they are opening a public forum for free expression under the First Amendment. Public universities cannot then turn around and censor students for expressing themselves by taking a knee. ETSU’s support for their students’ free expression is constitutional, appropriate, and in keeping with academic ideals of promoting free thought and dialogue.“Tennessee lawmakers, on the other hand, are proposing that Tennessee’s universities create unconstitutional policies. Today's letter fits a recent pattern: state legislators have used their extraordinary power to chill the speech of those who take a stand, or a knee, in protest of racial inequality.“Six months ago, Governor Bill Lee signed into law SB 8005, a bill enhancing offenses commonly associated with protests. The bill had its intended effect: swiftly ending the 62-day long People's Plaza Protest in support of racial equity. Tomorrow, the House Criminal Justice subcommittee will hear HB 513, a bill that grants immunity to drivers of vehicles who run over and kill a protester in the street. While Tennessee politicians talk a good game lauding the First Amendment, they are simultaneously busy taking action to shut down the speech of anyone with whom they disagree.“The peaceful actions of the ETSU basketball team may offend some. Their freedom of expression, though, is not bound by lawmakers' fragile sensitivities.”

Police searching for 2 vehicles in deadly hit-and-run crash

Wed, 24 Feb 2021 04:38:27 +0000

A person was killed when they were hit by multiple vehicles while crossing the street in Nashville Tuesday night.Metro Police officials say the pedestrian was crossing the road at Dickerson Pike and Hart Lane. The victim was hit by three vehicles and police say only one of them stayed at the scene. Two others drove away.Police say the two vehicles were described as a dark Chevy Camaro with racing stripes and a white Ford Taurus. Anyone with information on the crash was asked to call police.

Tennessee health officials say it could take 2 weeks to catch up on vaccinations after snow storm

Wed, 24 Feb 2021 04:29:23 +0000

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — Tennessee health officials say it could take up to two weeks for county health departments to catch up on COVID-19 vaccination appointments, after snow and ice shut down administration sites across the state.

"Most places in west and middle Tennessee had significant disruption last week because of the weather," said Dr. Lisa Piercey, Commissioner for the Tennessee Department of Health.

According to state health leaders, vaccine distributors could not pack nor ship Tennessee's allocation of doses last week which forced about a seven-day delay. Many county health departments were shut down and thousands of appointments for vaccination were postponed.

"A lot of sites are playing catch up this week," said Dr. Piercey, "So, they are taking the appointments that were supposed to happen last week and then putting them on top of the appointments this week. So, they are sort of working double duty."

Departments like Rutherford County posted a message on their Facebook page Tuesday afternoon asking the community for patience. The post read in part, "Staff is making their way through the list to get you rescheduled as quickly and efficiently as possible."

County agencies across the state are now extending daily hours into the evening and working weekends.

"They won't be 100 percent caught up this week," Dr. Piercey explained, "We expect it to take 10-to-14 days to get through all of that process. But they will be doing catch up this week and regular vaccine this week."

Fortunately, Dr. Piercey says a one-week delay will not have an impact on those awaiting their second dose of the vaccine. The CDC has updated its guidelines saying it is safe to wait up to six weeks between doses.

Stay with News 2 for continuing coverage of the COVID-19 Pandemic.

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(This reflects what the TDH reports each day. )

More than 250,000 in Memphis Impacted by Ongoing Boil Water Advisory

Wed, 24 Feb 2021 04:14:15 +0000

Nashville, TN (TN Tribune)–About 260,000 customers across Memphis and parts of Shelby County remain under a boil water advisory following last week’s unprecedented winter weather conditions.

MLGW spokesperson Gale Jones Carson said the company hopes the issue will be fixed in a few days, but could not give a time that the advisory would end.

Residents are asked to keep water use to just the essentials. Residents should not be washing their cars, Carson said.

MLGW says things continue to improve with the water issues in Memphis and Shelby County, but the boil water advisory remains in effect until further notice.

The post More than 250,000 in Memphis Impacted by Ongoing Boil Water Advisory appeared first on The Tennessee Tribune.

Tennessee TikTok user drove donations to Texans in crisis. 'The most grateful people I'd ever seen.'

Wed, 24 Feb 2021 03:36:14 +0000

The suffering in Texas after a strong winter storm has been well-documented on social media. When Tennessee TikTok user Chris Wieland saw what people were losing he put out a call for action. "We need your help," Chris Wieland said in a TikTok video. "My Cash App is in the bio. If everyone can donate $1.00 we can go down there and change a lot of people's lives."Wieland reached many of his almost 99,000 followers. The group raised $7,000 between Thursday and Saturday. "All that credit goes to the followers of TikTok," Wieland said. Wieland drove 14 hours from Murfreesboro to Killeen, Texas on Saturday. He packed his pickup truck and trailer with cases of water, wipes, baby formula and snacks and headed for people affected by the storm. "I know there was a lot of major cities that this impacted, but for some reason I kept seeing Killeen on TikTok. The people on TikTok posting no water, frozen pipes, their ceilings had caved in, their houses were flooded, and that's what drove me to Killeen."Wieland would like to go back with more donations, especially if he is supported in the same way. "It doesn't matter what you're doing. If you can get other people to follow that example in a positive way... before you know it there's a whole community doing it," he said.

Eagleville's only grocery store closes after fire

Wed, 24 Feb 2021 03:04:40 +0000

After a fire forced the only grocery store in Eagleville to close, city leaders and residents are rallying around the business to help it reopen.Multiple area fire departments were called to the Four Corners Grocery and Deli Sunday around 9:30 p.m. When they arrived, smoke and flames were visible from the store. Crews worked quickly to contain the fire, but the damage inside the business was extensive. It is closed until further notice.The business is an Eagleville landmark that is a gas station, grocery store and restaurant rolled into one."It's definitely a place where you don’t just buy food," said Dayton Hendrix, an Eagleville resident. "It’s a place where you build relationships and stuff, and you meet a lot of good people."Four Corners Grocery and Deli is also a place Eagleville residents rely on for groceries. Now that the store is closed, people will have to drive 20 minutes or more just to get basic necessities.Eagleville Mayor Chad Leeman and people from across the city said they are ready to help the business get up and running again."Everyone is going to roll up their sleeves," said Mayor Leeman. "I’ve had calls from state representatives, state senators and everybody else wanting to know how they can help."Leeman said he wants to work with the business to help them find ways to still make money, and keep their employees working. At this point, it is unknown how long the store will be closed."We're like a big family here," said Mayor Leeman. "When one person goes down, people rally to get involved any way they can."Initial findings indicated rags that were soaked in cooking oil started the fire. The rags were improperly discarded and when the cooking-oil began to oxidize, the material is prone to a spontaneous heating phenomenon. However, the Eagleville Fire Chief says the investigation is still ongoing.No one was hurt in the fire.

Coronavirus in Tennessee: 1,226 COVID cases, 45 deaths reported Feb. 23

Wed, 24 Feb 2021 02:23:52 +0000

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) – The Tennessee Department of Health released its COVID-19 update for Tuesday, February 23.

The total COVID-19 case count for Tennessee is 767,315 as of February 23, 2021 including 11,198 deaths, 998 current hospitalizations and 741,057 are inactive/recovered. Percent positive today is 7.46%. For the full report with additional data: https://t.co/jlAz8a6Upp. pic.twitter.com/Lxlg22p3NV
— TN Dept. of Health (@TNDeptofHealth) February 24, 2021

Tuesday's update was delayed. TDH tweeted just after 5:30 that the data was still being processed.

Hospitalizations

Earlier in the day, the state reported 998 people are currently hospitalized in Tennessee due to COVID-19.

Floor Bed Availability: There are 1,879 (18%) available floor beds in the state, down 9% from the previous day's report.

ICU Bed Availability: There are 329 (16%) available ICU beds in the state, down 15% from the previous day's report.

Vaccine Tracker

TDH reports 1,165,626 vaccinations have been given out so far in Tennessee. Currently, 10.87% of the state has received at least one dose.

Vaccination registration for residents aged 65 and older and those in Phase 1b of the state’s COVID-19 Vaccination Plan is now underway in 90 of the state’s 95 counties.

From availability to current phases, find vaccine information for every Tennessee county using News 2’s Vaccine Tracker map.

Shelby County 'Vaccine Wastage' Investigation

COVID Variants

Health officials tell News 2, as of Tuesday morning, there have been 13 confirmed cases of variants in Tennessee and all of them have been the B117 variant strain of SARS-CoV-2 (UK COVID variant).

Trinity Community Commons resumes weekly meals after devastating fire

Wed, 24 Feb 2021 02:13:13 +0000

The Nashville nonprofit Trinity Community Commons is once again serving free meals, less than one week after a fire destroyed parts of their church.Zach Lykins is the volunteer coordinator for Trinity Community Commons and says it was an easy decision knowing what this meal accomplished in the past.“It was the first place that I had been where I saw people across poverty lines, across racial lines, across all different barrier lines sharing a meal,” Lykins said.It was never one side serving the other or only one side being helped. This was the best form of community building he could imagine. The pandemic forced a few changes last March, so people could no longer meet at a table. Many still made the trip, grabbed a meal, and spent some time with volunteers who made it possible.“It’s sad in some ways because you can’t do that same social connection, but it is still good to see a lot of the same guests coming back week after week and keeping that relationship alive,” Lykins said.Meals are provided by the Nashville Food Project who typically send food to be prepared. Knowing there was no kitchen to work from at TCC, the group made the meals ready to serve.Nate Paulk is the executive director for TCC and was surprised at how eager his staff was to continue this tradition. He admits that at first, he hesitated at the idea knowing the church required major repairs.That’s when Paulk realized that no matter how tragic the loss, the problems facing their neighbors haven’t stopped. The least he could do is give these neighbors one less thing to worry about.“This isn’t about a property, it’s about people. I think that having the meal is more about us saying, buildings can burn but at the core of what TCC is, are the people of this community,” Paulk said.Paulk says this is not to diminish losses from the historic church. Instead, he’s hoping others understand the church has served several purposes over the years. Just this November, the church was the community polling place where neighbors cast their ballot.“So many different people have different kinds of connections with this space. We just let people choose how to connect,” Paulk said.To build on that sense of community, the meal will continue as long as they have the resources available. Even if you’re not interested in a meal for yourself, Paulk welcomes any volunteers or those willing to bring meals to families in need.For the time being, Paulk is working on finding a temporary solution for their virtual learning pods destroyed in the fire. At least 20 children took part in virtual learning through the church.You can support the fire relief efforts by clicking here.

Can I hug my vaccinated grandparents? A Vanderbilt expert weighs in

Tue, 23 Feb 2021 23:55:10 +0000

To the world, she's Loyce Holloway -- a retired teacher and church organist. To NewsChannel 5 Reporter Chris Davis, she's "Mimi H," his grandmother.Like a lot of people, Chris and his grandmother have found creative ways to share a little love, at a distance. "That’s the only way I could see you then, was when we did the patio. All wrapped up in a blanket at first," said Loyce Holloway.Now that she's gotten her second dose of the Pfizer vaccine, Holloway is longing for a slight change in pace. "Getting in the car and going," Holloway said with a chuckle.Dr. William Schaffner, an infectious disease specialist at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, says those fully vaccinated have a much lower risk of getting sick, but some precautions need to continue. "I would say keep those masks on, still keep social distancing," said Dr. Schaffner.Schaffner says that's important, not just for the safety of someone vaccinated but the people they're around too. "Although we’re getting good information we’re still not entirely sure if you can be vaccinated and still transmit the virus to others if you’re exposed," he said.That being said, Schaffner says grandkids can feel safer about actually stopping by in person. "I would think if you’ve been careful and haven’t been vaccinated and you continue to wear your mask, then you can visit those grandparents," said Dr. Schaffner. "Give them one kiss and a hug at the beginning and the end of the visit, don’t get all that close, still maintain some distancing."Schaffner says as more people get vaccinated, some of these precautions can start to fade away.

Pandemic Pals notify high risk individuals about vaccinations

Tue, 23 Feb 2021 23:46:32 +0000

A lot of people aren't tech savvy, or don't have internet, which can make it hard to sign-up for vaccine appointments.At Volunteer State Community College in Sumner County, people ages 65 and up can get the COVID-19 vaccine. Kim Baker at the Gallatin Area Chamber of Commerce is calling on Pandemic Helpers in their volunteer group to reach out to their Pandemic Pals to let them know. "Also checking in to make sure they’re aware of the vaccine eligibility, the schedule, and different criteria as it kind of changes daily," Baker said. Learn more about the program here.While Pandemic Pals help out in Gallatin, other places in Middle Tennessee don't have a program like it. Some states have turned to using Vaccine Buddies, where people help others with the vaccine process. Baker said, "I think that’s a great idea." Trent Rogan lends a helping hand to his Pandemic Pal who is high risk. "I’ve enjoyed getting to know them personally beyond just food, or getting them a ride somewhere," Rogan said.He said it's been rewarding, and he received a thank you note from his Pandemic Pal that meant a lot to him.“We can learn a lot from the older generation, and so it has been so cool just to hear the wisdom and the advice, but also just the encouragement to keep pushing on, even though we’ve had a pandemic,” Rogan said.He said his Pandemic Pal figured out how to sign up to get a vaccine appointment, but not everyone is in the same boat. Baker said, "So we’ve asked our helping pals to kind of navigate this website and understand the information that’s available so they can answer questions of those that they are helping." If you aren't comfortable with technology and want to sign up to get vaccinated in Davidson County you can also call 615-862-7777. For other counties, residents can call the state's help line at 866-442-5301 or fill out an online form hereAlso, to be part of the Pandemic Pals program, go here or call the chamber of commerce in Gallatin at 615-452-4000.

Pandemic Pals notify high-risk individuals about vaccinations

Tue, 23 Feb 2021 23:46:32 +0000

TDH investigation finds 7 instances of vaccine waste in Shelby Co., amounting to more than 2,400 doses

Tue, 23 Feb 2021 22:19:30 +0000

The Tennessee Department of Health found more than seven instances of COVID-19 vaccine waste in Shelby County, amounting to more than 2,400 wasted doses.An investigation into how the Shelby County Health Department has handled its inventory of the vaccine was launched following the announcement that more than 1,000 COVID-19 vaccine doses expired in Shelby County on Friday.TDH said the Shelby County Health Department lacks standard operating procedures for the storage and handling of the vaccine, including insufficient record keeping and no formal process for managing doses that will expire soon. The local health department had more than 51,000 doses of the vaccine in its inventory, which TDH said was an excess of 30,000 doses. As part of Tennessee's vaccination distribution plan, health departments are asked to administer the vaccine within seven to ten days of receiving doses. In response to the findings, TDH has sent personnel to Shelby County for technical assistance and to monitor its pharmacy operations, as well as, requesting on-site assistance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "Trust, honesty and transparency are key to collaborative partnerships. The preliminary findings of this investigation have led to swift and definitive actions to identify problems and implement improvements the community needs and deserves," said Tennessee Health Commissioner Dr. Lisa Piercey. "It’s important that we get this right for the people of Shelby County and for the state as a whole as we work to ensure equitable and efficient distribution of this life-saving vaccine to Tennesseans in all communities, especially those most vulnerable and underserved."Shelby County will continue to receive its full allocation of vaccine doses, which is determined by population. Management of the current inventory will be transferred from the local health department to hospital partners. Future allocations of the vaccine will be sent to the City of Memphis, hospitals, pharmacies and clinics in the Shelby County area. TDH said going forward, the department will assist the Shelby County Health Department in improving the efficiency at its COVID-19 vaccination sites.

Some Nashville private schools took millions in PPP loans while others paid it back

Tue, 23 Feb 2021 22:18:04 +0000

Some of Nashville's most prestigious private schools received millions of dollars in forgivable loans through the federal Paycheck Protection Program (PPP).But some of the schools decided to return the money to the federal government when they saw enrollment did not go down and there was no danger of laying off employees because of COVID.Other private schools say they followed the guidelines of the program and plan to ask forgiveness for the loans - meaning they will not have to repay the money.The private schools applied for the PPP loans last spring when Congress passed the CARES Act and disbursed billions of dollars in emergency pandemic funding.Traditional public schools do not qualify for the PPP loans.Franklin Road Academy received $2,063,100 from the Paycheck Protection Program according to data from the Small Business Administration.The data also shows Harding Academy, a pre-k through 8th-grade private school in Belle Meade, received $1,204,500, while Nashville Christian Schools Inc. in Bellevue, for preschoolers through 12th grade, received $1,043,300.The PPP loans are easily forgiven, which means they are essentially free money if schools use most of the funds to make sure employees were not laid off during the pandemic."It's really jarring to see the amounts there," said Metro Councilman Dave Rosenberg when we showed him what several private schools received.Rosenberg doubts private schools saw a drop in enrollment because of COVID, especially as parents began pulling their kids out of public schools so they could attend class in-person."PPP was supposed to be directed to small businesses who would otherwise have to lay off employees," Rosenberg said."Private schools have a lot of income sources whether it's endowments or tuition," Rosenberg said.Christ Presbyterian Academy on Old Hickory Boulevard received $3,189,529, but decided to return all of the money to the federal government when the school realized enrollment had not dropped."We decided to return it because candidly if we didn't need it, we shouldn't use it," said Nate Morrow who is CPA's Head of School."As we went through May and June it became very clear, very quickly, that our families were going to be back at CPA," Morrow said.He said the school applied for the money last spring when no one was sure what impact the pandemic would have.Montgomery Bell Academy also returned the PPP money it received.The school received more than $3 million dollars but decided it wanted to be a "good citizen" and return the money for others "not as well resourced," according to Headmaster Brad Gioia.Father Ryan High School, a private Catholic school received $1,948,600 in PPP loans.Director of Communications for the Diocese of Nashville, Rick Musacchio, said the school plans to keep the money and have the loans forgiven."We complied completely with the PPP program. It had requirements of keeping everyone employed, which we certainly did," Musacchio said.Another Catholic school, Pope John Paul II High School in Hendersonville, received $1,139,100 from the PPP program.Musacchio told us they also plan to keep the money even though total enrollment at Pope John Paul remained unchanged throughout the pandemic. He added that Father Ryan only lost three students.NewsChannel 5 Investigates asked, "If parents kept paying tuition and enrollment didn't go down, were you ever in danger of laying people off?"Musacchio responded, "Yes. The PPP loans became very important because we were able to focus on keeping people employed even facing the many challenges we did caused by COVID."Musacchio said more families needed financial aid because of the economic downturn, and the schools lost critical money when summer camps closed.He said the loans helped pay bus drivers and cafeteria workers who did not have jobs to do during the shutdown.Musacchio also said the Catholic schools have lower tuition than some of the other schools that gave loans back, and he doesn't think taking the money kept small businesses from getting it."There are still funds available, in the PPP loans, that the government has not yet released," Musacchio said.Currey Ingram Academy, a day and boarding school for Kindergarten through 12th graders, received $1,566,000.The school's website states it helps students with learning differences achieve their full potential.It sent a statement saying the school used the federal money to pay employees at its "Child Development Center and Diagnostic Center, which are open to the public and were unable to operate during the extended quarantine."Councilman Dave Rosenberg said the frustrating thing is public schools could not even apply for the PPP loans."In a public school you can see PTOs struggling to raise $5,000 to $10,000," Rosenberg said."When you further the gap between public and private schools it's not good for us as a society. It's not good for us as a city," Rosenberg said.We reached out to all the schools in this story and some of them sent us the following statements.Statement from Currey Ingram AcademyAmid the uncertainty of what the next academic year would look like, Currey Ingram Academy applied for the Paycheck Protection Program in early 2020. The money received went toward keeping the faculty and staff of Currey Ingram Academy, as well as our staff at the Child Development Center and Diagnostic Center -- which are both open to the public and were unable to operate during the extended quarantine -- employed during the crisis. It also went toward implementing health and safety measures to allow our students to return safely to in-person learning in the fall. We recognize that businesses across nearly every industry have been impacted by the COVID-19 crisis and we are grateful that we were able to receive a small portion to keep our staff employed and community safe on campus.Statement from CPA The Church (Christ Presbyterian Church) and Academy submitted an application for the full amount offered with the uncertainty of our families ability to pay tuition or church members ability to contribute in annual giving during the pandemic. We are an organization employing 250+ employees whose compensation depends on tuition, and our securing of the loan was a step forward in the uncertainty of the fiscal year. However, as fall of 2020 unfolded, our tuition income remained stable, allowing us to return the full amount of the loan for other nonprofits that needed it more.We are thankful that so many of our Nashville-area neighbors and nonprofits have had access to financial relief and stability in the uncertainty of this pandemic.Additional Information from the Nashville Catholic Diocese The loans helped all of our entities to avoid cutting payroll to make up for the loss of revenue during the pandemic. The loans not only kept people employed, as was the goal of the program, but perhaps more importantly, saved many jobs that provide support services to address a wide range of needs. For our non-school entities the loans enabled us to retain vital staffing and expertise, allowing us to provide for the continuity of our services to the entire Nashville community. These would include providing affordable daycare to low-income families, being a distribution arm chosen by the State of Tennessee to assist with tornado relief services, and being chosen by the City of Nashville to assist with counseling and emergency relief services to families impacted by the Christmas Day bombing.The loans related to our schools, for example, enabled schools to pay bus drivers and cafeteria workers even though they had no work since students were subject to “stay-at-home” orders. The funds also helped to provide for PPEs and support the implementation of protocols and modifications necessary for the safe reopening for in-person learning at the beginning of the academic year in August 2020. All 16 of our parochial and diocesan schools reopened for in-person learning as scheduled and the protocols and safety modifications put in place have allowed them to remain open throughout the year. The in-person learning not only provides for the safety and education of both Catholic and non-Catholic students, it also relieves their families of the burden of providing supervision and support for students engaged in distance learning programs.

Tennessee bill to abolish early voting and machines is withdrawn

Tue, 23 Feb 2021 22:13:40 +0000

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) - A bill to eliminate early voting and abolish voting machines is being withdrawn.

Tullahoma Republican Senator Janice Bowling pulled the bill Tuesday after expressing her concerns for election security.

Tennessee isn't the only place where a slew of election reform bills are popping up across Republican controlled legislatures.

“Obviously right now, we’re having a big fight about what it means to be a democracy and whether people trust it or not,” Senator Jeff Yarbro said.

The bill from Bowling would also have made hand marked, watermarked paper ballots the only way to cast a vote. Calls to the Deputy Speaker of the Senate went unanswered.

“Some people in the Republican party currently see measures that make it easier to vote as something that makes democracy worse,” Yarbro said.

However, Senator Bowling says that’s not the case. In a previous interview she said early voting has lead to ‘mischief’.

Despite the bill being withdrawn Democrats say there is room for compromise on election security specifically on having a paper trail.

“I think it does make a lot of sense to make sure that you have a paper backup — so that the voter can look at their vote and make sure that it was cast the way they wanted it to and if there’s any questions afterwards you can go back and count them by numbers,” Yarbro said.

The bill passed both first and second consideration before heading to the State and Local government committee.

Many lawmakers want to cut out the outside noise.

“We gotta get passed the fighting and get to just running a fair election that people can understand with clear rules that people can follow and I think that’s what almost everybody wants," he said.

Other election related laws have been introduced including a bill to fingerprint all voters Sen. Frank Niceley and Rep. Susan Lynn are behind that push.

There has not been any evidence despite court challenges of widespread voter fraud.

Tennessee’s voter participation remains among the worst in the country.

Shirley the elephant dies after more than two decades at Tennessee Sanctuary

Tue, 23 Feb 2021 20:26:38 +0000

HOHENWALD, Tenn. (WKRN) – One of the oldest elephants in North America passed away in Tennessee this week.

Shirley called The Elephant Sanctuary in Hohenwald, Tennessee home since 1999. She moved there after spending 24 years in the circus and another 22 years as the sole elephant at the Louisiana Purchase Zoo and Gardens in Monroe, LA.

At 72-years-old, Shirley defied all odds as one of the oldest elephants in captivity. Officials with the sanctuary say she lived well beyond the life expectancy for a captive Asian elephant. At the time she died, Shirley held the record for the second oldest elephant in North America.

News 2's Alex Corradetti featured Shirley in a special report in July of 2020.

Shirley was born in Sumatra in 1948 and survived capture by Fidel Castro’s forces as well as a highway accident that killed two other elephants.

Over the last few weeks, veterinary teams closely monitored Shirleys condition and began to observe some changes in her mobility.

Staff worked around the clock to check on Shirley and make sure she was receiving the best care. On Monday morning, staff say Shirley died peacefully in her sleep, surrounded by her caregivers.

“The Sanctuary is deeply honored to have provided care for Shirley for 21 years. We thank Shirley’s many supporters, fans, and friends who have shared her story, who have loved her from afar, and who have partnered with us through the years to provide lifetime care and the opportunity for Shirley to know true companionship with other elephants. We learned so much about the dignity and grace of elephants aging in captivity through caring for Shirley, and we will continue to apply this knowledge to help care for all current and future residents. Shirley leaves an enduring legacy marked by a truly remarkable life, and she will be deeply missed by all,” said Janice Zeitlin, CEO of The Elephant Sanctuary.

Shirley celebrating her 72 birthday!
Shirley celebrating her 72 birthday!
Shirley celebrating her 72 birthday!
Shirley celebrating her 72 birthday!
Shirley celebrating her 72 birthday!

Investigation uncovers 7 incidents of COVID 'vaccine waste' in Shelby County, 2,400+ doses wasted

Tue, 23 Feb 2021 20:21:21 +0000

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (WREG)— Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris said Tuesday the county is taking action and conducting an investigation after learning new information on doses of expired COVID-19 vaccine that were discarded last week.

The Shelby County Health Department revealed Friday that 1,315 COVID-19 vaccine doses that were set to expire had to be discarded after ice and snow closed vaccination sites.

But Harris said he was given new information on the incident by the state Tuesday.

"I learned that the level of vaccine that expired in Shelby County was not accurate. As a result, we understand the state will announce findings and reforms," Harris wrote on Twitter.

The Tennessee Department of Health released findings of its investigation Tuesday afternoon, saying it found:

● Seven incidents of vaccine waste amounting to more than 2,400 wasted doses
● 51,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccine in inventory. This amounts to an excess of about 30,000
doses. The goal is to administer the vaccine within seven to 10 days of receipt.
● Lack of standard operating procedures for storage and handling of the vaccine
● Insufficient record keeping
● No formal process for management of soon-to-expire vaccine doses

"The Tennessee Department of Health has embedded personnel at SCHD for technical
assistance and monitoring of their pharmacy operation, and has formally requested additional
on-site assistance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention," TDH said in a release.

State officials probing Shelby County’s wasted 1,315 vaccines

Harris said the county had terminated the site manager who managed the relationship with a pharmacist in charge of the vaccine. He said that site manager allegedly provided false information.

He also said the county was asking for the pharmacist in charge, who is a contractor and not a county employee, be removed.

The county is conducting its own internal investigation that should be completed in a few days, he said.

The loss of doses of vaccine reportedly during the inclement weather was gut-wrenching. Today, I learned new information because of a state review that takes place when this has happened across our state, and have taken additional action based on the new information. pic.twitter.com/ap7MleF20V
— Mayor Lee Harris (@MayorLeeHarris) February 23, 2021

Director Alisa Haushalter said a pharmacist for the health department, contracted through Regional One, is in charge of keeping up with vaccine expiration dates. During Friday’s briefing, Haushaulter didn’t explain why the pharmacist didn’t notify the health department.

"The loss of doses of vaccine reportedly during the inclement weather was gut-wrenching," Harris wrote Tuesday. "I acknowledge that it was extremely difficult to get out some of the vaccine given the impact and size of the winter storm. However, I do not currently believe that the inclement weather completely explains the entire loss."

KNEELING DEBATE: Crowe, Lundberg among legislators asking Tenn. universities to 'prohibit any such actions moving forward'

Tue, 23 Feb 2021 20:19:36 +0000

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WJHL)- In a letter to university presidents in Tennessee, several state senators asked school leaders to adopt policies related to kneeling or any form of protest that "could be viewed as disrespectful" to the flag or the nation.

Senator Paul Bailey (R- Sparta) posted the letter on his Twitter account Tuesday afternoon that outlined their requests.

pic.twitter.com/jAib29QypP
— Sen. Paul Bailey (@PaulBaileyforTN) February 23, 2021

The letter's signers include Senator Rusty Crowe (R-Johnson City) and Senator Jon Lundberg (R-Bristol).

The letter reads in part, "While we recognize our student athletes may express their own views on a variety of issues in their personal time, we do not condone any form of protest that could be viewed as disrespectful to our nation or flag while they are representing our state universities."

On February 15, the ETSU Men's Basketball Team was recorded kneeling before the game at Chattanooga. An ETSU official confirmed the team has done so prior to other games this season as well.

Head Coach Jason Shay was asked about his team kneeling that same week after the Bucs faced Mercer at home.

Coach Shay said kneeling is about shedding light on racial issues, not disrespecting the American flag or the men and women who have served.

Late last week, ETSU President Dr. Brian Noland said the men’s basketball team’s decision to kneel during the national anthem has caused pain across the region and doesn’t reflect the region’s values.

The topic also came up Monday during a local panel discussion on Black Lives Matter and Blue Lives Matter.

You can watch that entire discussion on our WJHL Facebook page below.

The letter from senators encourages chancellors and presidents at universities across the state, including East Tennessee State University, to "adopt policies within your respective athletic departments to prohibit any such actions moving forward."

Other schools the letter addressed include schools such as the University of Tennessee-Knoxville and the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga.

"We expect all those who walk onto the field of play representing our universities to also walk onto the field of play to show respect for our National Anthem," the letter states.

Middle Tennessee Electric to suspend disconnections until March 2 due to winter storms

Tue, 23 Feb 2021 19:18:41 +0000

Middle Tennessee Electric (MTE) has announced that it will suspend disconnections until March 2 as the region recovers from last week’s winter storms.MTE encouraged members to reach out if they have trouble paying their bill by calling 877-777-9020 or visiting the online portal at mtemc.com.The not-for-profit electric cooperative said members have options to deal with payments on their accounts. MTE said it offers variable and fixed budget billing to help “ease the large swings that occur when extreme temperatures cause us to use large amounts of energy to run our homes.”“Even though the energy rate at MTE is 25 percent below the national average, when a consumer uses lots of energy, bills reflect the increased consumption. Our team members will continue to proactively reach out to members to help them, too. But don’t feel you have to wait for a call; we’re here to answer your questions,” said Robert White, vice president of community relations and member services.The cooperative said it also offers options to adjust your due date to deliver even more flexibility. According to its website, MTE serves more than 600,000 customers in 11 counties, including Rutherford, Cannon, Williamson and Wilson.

Tennessee: 28 of 95 counties now have paper trail for voting

Tue, 23 Feb 2021 18:39:54 +0000

Tennessee officials say 28 of 95 counties now have voting machines that leave a paper trail, and more counties plan to buy them. On Tuesday, Tennessee Elections Coordinator Mark Goins told state senators that three counties had such equipment in 2010. Goins says 45% of the votes cast last year had a paper trail. Secretary of State Tre Hargett says he's encouraging counties to buy paper-trail equipment, but can't require it under current state law. He said some counties have also bought new electronic-only machines in the last few years. Hargett says machines bought with the newest round of federal voting money must have the paper audit trail.

Deadly 6-vehicle crash closes I-24 East near I-65 in Nashville

Tue, 23 Feb 2021 17:08:19 +0000

A deadly crash involving six vehicles has closed a portion of Interstate 24 eastbound near I-65 in Nashville.The collision was reported around 10 a.m. Tuesday at mile marker 44. Details of the crash were not immediately known. One tractor trailer and five other vehicles were involved in the wreck.The Nashville Fire Department confirmed at least one person was killed and at least two others were critically injured.The Tennessee Department of Transportation did not have an estimated time of reopening.

Be careful of third-party ticket sites, some sellers may not offer refund

Tue, 23 Feb 2021 16:25:16 +0000

As we continue to rebound from the pandemic, we're all waiting for live concerts to come back, and when they do, you're going to want to be careful where you buy your tickets. One music lover learned the hard way that you have to careful where you buy concert tickets online.When the pandemic happened, that of course meant no more concerts. And while a lot of venues offered refunds on tickets, Bryan Kobylik, who bought his tickets online, found the seller was not so willing to give him his money back.Kool and The Gang was going to perform at the Schermerhorn Symphony Center last year. However, the show late last March was postponed as the coronavirus had moved into Tennessee – and it still hasn't been rescheduled.“I just would really like my money back. It’s $319 and some change,” said Kobylik.The Nashville Symphony typically does not offer refunds to shows that are postponed, but as the pandemic stretched into the summer, the organization changed its tune."We talked to a ton of people during that time frame and the stories we heard were just awful. People had lost jobs and people had to move out of state and just circumstances really, really changed and we tried to be sensitive,” said Lindsay Bergstrom, the symphony's director of ticket services. But Kobylik still didn't get his refund.It turns out, the 71-year-old, who doesn't normally buy tickets online, had googled “tickets, Kool and The Gang and Nashville Symphony.”And he got a long list of third-party or ticket resellers. Kobylik recalls clicking on the first one. “Where did you think you were buying the tickets from,” asked NewsChannel 5 Investigates.“I thought I was buying them from Ticketmaster,” said Kobylik.Bergstrom says the ticket reselling industry has gone high-tech.“They build websites. They buy the search words so if you type in ‘Kool And the Gang Nashville’ or something like that they make sure they buy up those words and those ads so that they appear at the top of the Google page or whatever search engine. And so, someone will click on that and they’ll be taken to a website that is pretty high-quality most of the time. It’ll list things like our address and even our phone number sometimes. And so, it looks legitimate,” said Bergstrom.Bergstrom says when you buy from a third-party reseller, you usually pay a lot more.If Kobylik had bought his two tickets from the symphony, he would have paid $150 total. Instead, he paid more than twice that amount.Bergstrom says occasionally these companies will sell the same tickets to several people. And they often don't make it easy to reach customer service.The symphony says you're better off buying direct.“We are always happy to help in person or over the phone. Definitely always go to the venue’s website. And it’s going to be really apparent usually, something like NashvilleSymphony.org. We are a nonprofit so look for that .org web address. And you know you have the right place. Don’t ever just rely on a Google search. Make sure you scroll all the way down the page and find all of the websites, not just the ad websites that live at the top of the search engines,” said Bergstrom.As for Bryan Kobylik, he eventually tracked down the company that sold him his tickets, but it was nothing to celebrate.“The seller, he was the representative of the seller, said ‘well, until it gets canceled, we are not refunding anything,’” Kobylik said.That ticket company told NewsChannel 5 Investigates that they do not to offer refunds unless the show is canceled – even if the venue offers refunds, even in the case of the pandemic and even when the show has been delayed for more than a year.They say that's their policy, and that when someone buys tickets from them, they have to click a box and agree to that. Now that being said, after we talked with them, the company agreed to give Bryan Kobylik his money back.The symphony meanwhile says they're working on getting Kool and The Gang rescheduled, though with the current health concerns, the earliest they will likely have shows again at the Schermerhorn will be this fall.