A free burn permit from the Tennessee Department of Agriculture Division of Forestry is now required before burning leaves or natural vegetation, including debris generated by Hurricane Helene.

“Due to the vast amount of woody debris from Hurricane Helene and other recent storms across the state, we expect more outdoor burning than usual this year,” State Forester Heather Slayton says. “Since escaped debris burns are the leading cause of wildfires, it is important that Tennesseans take fire safety seriously. Burn permits are required by law and the tool by which we help citizens understand when and how to burn.”

Permits are only issued when it is safe to burn. When conditions are unsafe due to hazardous conditions like high winds or extreme drought, TDF temporarily pauses the issuance of burn permits and resumes once conditions improve.

Burn permits are free and can be obtained at www.BurnSafeTN.org or by using the MyTN mobile app.

Always obtain a permit on the day you intend to burn any size leaf, brush, or debris pile or conduct a prescribed fire. Each fire should be completely extinguished by the permit expiration and no fire should be left unattended at any time. Burning without a permit is a prosecutable Class C misdemeanor.

Although online applications are encouraged, residents with limited internet access may call 877-350-BURN (2876) to request a permit Monday through Friday, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. CDT.

If you live inside city limits, check with your municipality for additional restrictions before you burn. Contact your local government to check for alternatives to burning for safe disposal of natural disaster debris and use those options whenever possible.

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Opry teases 100th anniversary plans

The Grand Ole Opry, the longest-running radio program in history, has previewed plans for its upcoming 100th year to fans, artists and friends who gathered to mark the Opry’s 99th birthday last weekend.

Beginning with the Opry’s first show of 2025, the yearlong celebration dubbed “Opry 100” will pay tribute to the artists, fans and songs that have cemented the Opry as the cultural heart and home of country music since its debut on WSM radio in 1925.

Opry 100 will be marked through a series of events during 2025, from an international Opry performance at the Royal Albert Hall in London to special shows, exhibits, deluxe book publishing and merchandise.

Tickets for most 2025 Opry shows will be available starting Friday. A historic number of country music’s new stars, superstars and legends, plus surprise guests, will step into the prestigious Opry Circle, and every show in 2025 will mark the 100th milestone, beginning with a Jan. 3 performance at Ryman Auditorium.

The Opry will host “Opry 100 Honors” shows throughout the year to salute icons of the Opry who have helped forge its place in country music history, and a portion of these ticket sales will benefit the Opry Trust Fund, which for 60 years has assisted members of the country music community in need.

In addition, 100 artists will make Opry debuts during the 100th celebration, a nod to the Opry’s tradition of launching new talent and welcoming superstar artists from outside country music to the genre’s most famous show.

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Vandy children’s hospital named No. 1 in Tennessee

Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt has again been named a state, regional and national leader in pediatric health care, achieving the title of No. 1 children’s hospital in Tennessee and sharing the top spot in the Southeast, according to the latest U.S. News & World Report rankings.

In the newly released 2024-2025 Best Children’s Hospitals report, Monroe Carell also ranked nationally in 10 of 11 pediatric specialty programs. New this year, the report added pediatric and adolescent behavioral health to the list of pediatric specialties. Monroe Carell has made the Best Children’s Hospitals list for 18 consecutive years, every year since the ranking’s inception in 2007.

This is the fourth year in the regional rankings category that Monroe Carell has been recognized as No. 1 in the Southeast, sharing the spot in a three-way tie. The Southeast region includes 19 ranked pediatric facilities in nine states (Arkansas, Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Tennessee and South Carolina).

Pediatric specialties at Monroe Carell that achieved rankings in the Top 50 are: behavioral health; cancer; cardiology and heart surgery; diabetes and endocrinology; gastroenterology and GI surgery; neonatology; neurology and neurosurgery; orthopedics; pulmonology; and urology.

The annual Best Children’s Hospitals report ranks the top 50 pediatric centers in 11 medical specialties. Scores are calculated using clinical data from nearly 108 hospitals through a detailed survey that looks at measures such as patient safety, infection prevention and adequacy of nurse staffing.

OneOncology closes United Urology deal

OneOncology, a physician-led national platform for independent oncology practices, announced it has closed its acquisition of United Urology Group, one of the nation’s leading urology management services organizations supporting more than 250 providers with more than 1,300 employees.

“We’re thrilled to bring these two physician-led organizations together to drive innovation and ultimately improve the standard of cancer care,” says Jeff Patton, M.D., chief executive officer, OneOncology. “OneOncology and UUG share a dedication to physician leadership, high-quality care, growth and innovation. This partnership will enhance OneOncology’s partner and UUG’s affiliate practices and ultimately advance urology care, including the increasingly complex treatment of genitourinary cancers.”

UUG’s vision is to lead the transformation of urologic care through its commitment to accessible, high quality and value-based care; patient and employee satisfaction; continuous innovation; and community involvement.

Urologists are critical members of the cancer care ecosystem, serving as the quarterbacks for cancer treatment for prostate, bladder and other genitourinary cancers. Prostate cancer incidence rates have grown by approximately 3% per year over the last decade, creating a high unmet need for these services.

In 2024, the American Cancer Society estimates there to be almost 300,000 newly diagnosed cases of prostate cancer in the United States with prostate cancer being the second-leading cause of cancer death in American men.

Assurant opens new device care center

Assurant, Inc., a leading global business services company that supports, protects and connects major consumer purchases, officially opened its new Innovation and Device Care Center located in Mt. Juliet.

The new 259,000-square-foot facility is double the size of the previous location in La Vergne and will be a key hub for Assurant’s Device Lifecycle Solutions business, which in 2023 alone repurposed 22 million devices.

The new, state-of-the-art facility will also house the Company’s Automation and Engineering team, which develops new and innovative ways to leverage automation, robotics, AI, and machine learning to create greater value in the global supply chain and grow the secondary device market.

At the new Mt. Juliet facility, approximately 800 employees work to extend the life of devices and reduce e-waste by processing, testing and refurbishing connected devices. Customers trading in their old devices not only enjoy the financial benefits of trade-in credits; they are also making a positive impact on the environment for every device that is reused in lieu of a new device manufactured.

Economy again tops trucking biz concerns

The American Transportation Research Institute, the trucking industry’s not-for-profit research organization, has released its 20th annual Top Industry Issues report that identifies the trucking industry’s leading concerns.

This year’s list includes the economy, parking, lawsuit abuse reform, insurance cost and availability, and rising four spots from last year, battery electric vehicles.

“Without question, this has been another tough year for the trucking industry,” says Gregg Troian, PGT Trucking president. “Our costs continued to climb while freight demand struggled. But each year we can count on ATRI’s analysis to not only quantify the issues, but more importantly, what we can collectively do as an industry to address each.”

This year saw the state of the economy and the lack of available truck parking retain their No. 1 and 2 rankings on the overall list, respectively. However, growing concern over the proliferation of nuclear verdicts led to lawsuit abuse reform rising to the No. 3 spot this year.

The largest climb in ranking this year came in insurance cost and availability, which rose eight spots to be the industry’s No. 4 concern overall. Rounding out the top five this year was driver compensation.

More 45% of the survey respondents were motor carrier executives and personnel, while truck drivers represented 31%. Among truck driver respondents, truck parking, driver compensation and the economy were the top three concerns, while motor carriers ranked the economy, lawsuit abuse reform, and the driver shortage as the top three concerns.

Motive launches AI-driven First Responder feature

Motive, the AI-powered integrated operations platform, announced a first-of-its-kind first responder service for drivers of commercial vehicles that expedites emergency response in the event of a severe collision.

The new First Responder feature was developed in partnership with RapidSOS and ensures drivers receive immediate help when a collision is detected by quickly dispatching emergency services, helping reduce fatalities and severe injuries, and setting a new standard for driver safety.

When a severe collision occurs, getting emergency help can often be a matter of life or death. Survival rates increase by 13% for every minute that first responders arrive faster at the scene of a collision. First Responder ensures drivers receive the urgent care they need even faster, reducing the amount of time it takes for 911 to verify incidents and helping dispatchers deploy appropriate resources faster.

“First Responder transforms the way we support drivers in a collision and will save lives,” says Shoaib Makani, co-founder and CEO of Motive. “By reducing the time it takes for 911 to verify incidents and dispatch help, we are taking a critical step toward achieving zero harm and zero preventable accidents, keeping everyone on the road safer.”

Motive customers can use powerful, accurate AI to monitor and protect drivers. New AI-powered enhancements to Motive’s driver Safety product combat driver fatigue, which contributes to nearly 100,000 accidents, 800 fatalities and 50,000 injuries annually.