Tennessee’s annual sales tax holiday begins Friday and runs through Sunday, allowing families to save on clothing, school supplies and computers.

Items exempt from sales tax during this period include:

• General apparel that costs $100 or less per item such as shirts, pants, socks, shoes, dresses, etc.

• School and art supplies with a purchase price of $100 or less per item such as binders, backpacks, crayons, paper, pens, pencils, rulers and art supplies such as glazes, clay, paints, drawing pads and artist paintbrushes

• Computers – including desktops, laptops and tablets – for personal use with a purchase price of $1,500 or less

The traditional sales tax holiday comes in addition to the recent Tennessee Works Tax Act, which includes a three-month grocery tax suspension Aug. 1-Oct. 31.

Information

Metro general election scheduled for Tuesday

Metro Nashville/Davidson County voters will elect a mayor, vice mayor and Metro Council members in a general election Tuesday.

The final day of early voting for the election is Saturday, at 12 locations throughout the county. Those locations will be open 8 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Friday and 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Saturday.

List of early voting locations

Participating voters must present a photo ID issued by the federal or Tennessee state government to vote.On Election Day, the polls are open 7 a.m.-7 p.m. If voting on Election Day, you must go to your assigned voting location found at the Polling Place Finder

State unemployment drops to all-time low

Tennessee matched its all-time low unemployment rate in June, according to newly released data from the Department of Labor and Workforce Development. The seasonally adjusted rate for the month came in at 3.2%, the historic low that the state first reached before the pandemic in 2020.

For the previous two months, unemployment in Tennessee had held steady at 3.3%, but it dropped 0.1% in June to once again reach the all-time low number. The June 2023 rate of 3.2% mirrors the state’s rate from June 2022.

Tennessee employers continue to grow their workforce and Tennessee’s economy by adding 9,500 jobs between May and June. The Government sector saw the most month-to-month growth, followed by the Professional and Business Services sector and then the Manufacturing sector.

Between June 2022 and June 2023, employers created 84,600 new jobs across the state. The biggest gains came in the Education and Health Services sector. The Leisure and Hospitality sector saw the next largest year-to-year gains, followed by the Government sector.

Across the nation, seasonally adjusted unemployment also decreased in June. The new statistic of 3.6% is 0.1% lower when compared to the previous month. One year ago, the national rate was 3.6%.

TDOE releases final 3rd grade appeals data

The Tennessee Department of Education released final data last week about third grade retention appeals, as the window for families to submit an appeal of decisions about their student’s potential retention in third grade closed June 30.

The Tennessee Learning Loss Remediation and Student Acceleration Act passed in 2021 set forth key academic supports for third grade students who did not score proficient on the English language arts (ELA) portion of their TCAP assessment, and updated requirements for these students to move to the next grade via multiple pathways for fourth grade promotion.

Since the appeals window opened May 30, the department received 10,572 appeal forms representing 9,054 unique students. Of these unique students, 7,812 students received approval on their appeal, and 685 students received a denial of their appeal. Additionally, 557 appeals that were submitted were not applicable.

The department plans to release information about third graders who successfully complete requirements for the summer camp promotion pathway soon.

Nissan to adopt Tesla’s NACS EV charging

Nissan has reached an agreement with Tesla to adopt the North American Charging Standard (NACS) beginning in 2025, providing Nissan customers even more choices when it comes to charging their electric vehicle. Nissan is the first Japanese automaker to announce future product support for NACS.

From 2024, Nissan will make available a NACS charging adapter for Ariya models which are currently equipped with the Combined Charging System 1 (CCS1) for DC fast charging. This will enable customers to connect their vehicle’s charging port to NACS plugs at compatible chargers.

Starting in 2025, Nissan will begin offering EVs for the U.S. and Canadian markets with a NACS port. This will make charging on the Tesla Supercharger network seamless and convenient for drivers, significantly increasing the number of public fast-charging locations at which Nissan EVs can be charged.

“Adopting the NACS standard underlines Nissan’s commitment to making electric mobility even more accessible as we follow our Ambition 2030 long-term vision of greater electrification,” says Jérémie Papin, chairperson, Nissan Americas. “We are happy to provide access to thousands more fast chargers for Nissan EV drivers, adding confidence and convenience when planning long-distance journeys.”

USPS honors Lewis with Forever stamp

The U.S. Postal Service is celebrating the life and legacy of Rep. John Lewis (1940-2020), a key figure in some of the most pivotal moments of the civil rights movement, by issuing a Forever stamp with his portrait.

A dedication ceremony for the stamp was held July 21 at Morehouse College in Atlanta.

“As an avid collector, stamps were important to Congressman Lewis, who always made sure he purchased stamps on their first day of issue,” says Michael Collins, chair of the board for the John and Lillian Miles Lewis Foundation. “We are deeply grateful to the United States Postal Service for recognizing the congressman with this official Forever stamp, a testament to the indomitable spirit and unwavering commitment of a true American hero.”

Lewis was the face of the Nashville Student Movement, chairman of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, an original Freedom Rider, and one of the keynote speakers at the historic 1963 March on Washington. Even in the face of hatred and violence, Lewis remained resolute in his commitment to what he liked to call “good trouble.”

The stamp features a photograph of Lewis taken by Marco Grob for the Aug. 26 issue of Time Magazine. Lewis’s name is at the bottom of the stamp. The John Lewis Forever stamp is available in panes of 15. Forever stamps will always be equal in value to the current First-Class Mail 1-ounce price.

On3, OneTeam partner for NIL licensing data

On3, a leader in college sports media and data, has announced a data licensing agreement with OneTeam Partners (OneTeam), the leader in commercializing group licensing rights of professional and collegiate athletes.

OneTeam will use On3’s Transfer Portal Tracker to maintain accurate information about the growing number of athletes participating in its expansive collegiate group licensing program.

“We are incredibly bullish on the future of group licensing and it’s positive impact on athlete Name, Image and Likeness,” says Shannon Terry, Founder and CEO of On3. “Our Transfer Portal Tracker provides a comprehensive data solution to help OneTeam manage player movement.”

OneTeam is a major player within college group licensing, partnering with industry giants like Fanatics and EA SPORTS to create opportunities for thousands of college athletes to monetize their NIL.

With the largest group licensing enterprise in collegiate sports, OneTeam’s programs include more than 10,000 athletes from 90 schools, across football, basketball, baseball, softball, soccer, volleyball, and are poised to expand even more.

Uncle Nearest Single Barrel contest underway

Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey announced that it will begin distribution of its highly sought-after Single Barrel Whiskey this fall.

The rollout will kick off with Uncle Nearest’s ‘Single Barrel Showdown: America’s Choice,’ an online public vote that puts the power in the hands of whiskey fans across the country to determine which five states will be the first to receive Uncle Nearest Single Barrel Whiskey on shelves.

Currently, Uncle Nearest Single Barrel Whiskey is only available to purchase online and at Nearest Green Distillery in Shelbyville, Tennessee.

Voting for the ‘Single Barrel Showdown: America’s Choice’ began July 19, coinciding with the sixth anniversary of the launch of Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey, and will take place through Aug. 2. Those who cast their vote will automatically be entered to win a two-night trip for two to Tennessee, complete with round trip transportation, a hotel stay in Nashville, and a tour and tasting at Nearest Green Distillery.

Following the voting period, Uncle Nearest will announce the winning states as well as the winner of the contest in mid-August. The winning territories will see Uncle Nearest Single Barrel Whiskey barrels arrive to market first and just in time for Sept. 5, coinciding with the same date as the opening of Nearest Green Distillery in 2019.

Information. Votes are limited to one per person, and voters must be 21 or older. No purchase is necessary to enter.

RLJ’s 21c Museum Hotel to be rebranded

RLJ Lodging Trust has announced its Nashville property, the 21c Museum Hotel, 222 Third Avenue North, is joining the Tapestry Collection by Hilton.

The 124-room property will undergo a comprehensive renovation next year and relaunch as a rebranded lifestyle boutique hotel within the Tapestry Collection by Hilton.

This marks the Company’s third conversion in 2023, joining previously announced conversions in New Orleans and Houston, and building on its three successful 2022 completed conversions.

In 2017, the historic Gray & Dudley Building in Downtown Nashville underwent a transformational renovation into a boutique lifestyle hotel that is now the 21c Museum Hotel.

The building displays late 19th century architecture with showroom windows facing both Second and Third avenues, with a facade that is fitting of the Second Avenue Historic Preservation District. The 2017 renovation included the addition of rooftop terrace suites, with up-close views of the Cumberland River and surrounding historic district.

The hotel will continue to feature art installations throughout the property, providing a unique backdrop to the approximately 8,000 square feet of meeting and exhibition space. Additionally, the newly opened eighth floor terrace will be available for guests to enjoy the downtown Nashville skyline.

Peabody team tests moral repetition effect

A study recently published in Psychological Science reveals that when people repeatedly encounter headlines about corporate wrongdoing, they view the wrongdoing as less unethical and are more likely to believe the headlines are true.

Social media can cause scandalous news to go viral in an instant, and the resharing of provocative headlines ensures people repeatedly encounter these scandals.

To test the effects of this repetition on moral judgment, researchers at Vanderbilt Peabody College of education and human development and the London Business School sent text messages to study participants with news headlines about corporate misconduct.

The study occurred over the course of 15 days as participants engaged in their daily routines.

“We often think about social media and the current digital media landscape as increasing our anger and moral outrage, but in this case, repeated exposures to corporate wrongdoings actually made people slightly less outraged about the moral offense,” says Lisa Fazio, associate professor of psychology and human development.

The researchers found that participants rated repeated headlines of wrongdoing as significantly less unethical than new headlines – a phenomenon known as the moral repetition effect – and that participants’ anger diminished when they encountered wrongdoings described in repeated headlines versus new headlines. The less anger they felt, the less unethical they judged the wrongdoing.

Likewise, wrongdoings in repeated headlines versus new headlines were rated as less unusual, which also led to judging the wrongdoing as less unethical.

Murfreesboro council approves new park plan

The Murfreesboro City Council voted July 20 to approve the Master Plan Task Order services for planning and designing Blackman Park. The city will develop the park on land along Veterans Parkway near I-840.

“We are excited to begin planning and design work on recreational land on the City’s west side,” says Murfreesboro Mayor Shane McFarland. “The land the city exchanged from MTE is perfectly positioned for a new community park that will include parkland, green space, walking trails and recreational amenities.”

Nashville-based Gresham Smith was selected to conduct park master planning and design services.

In January, the city finalized a “property swap” with Middle Tennessee Electric for land along Veterans Parkway that includes a proposed park in the western portion of Murfreesboro. The City Council had voted June 23, 2022, to approve an exchange of property with Middle Tennessee Electric for land that will include a 95-acre park and other public and community uses.

Assistant city manager Sam Huddleston says a budget of $8 million has been established for elements at the park.