Acting United States Attorney Thomas J. Jaworski for the Middle District of Tennessee announced that Criminal Chief Ben Schrader will lead the United States Attorney’s Office’s efforts in connection with the Justice Department’s nationwide Election Day Program for the upcoming general election.

Criminal Chief Schrader has been appointed to serve as the district election officer (DEO) for the Middle District of Tennessee, and in that capacity is responsible for overseeing the district’s handling of Election Day complaints of voting rights concerns, threats of violence to election officials or staff, and election fraud, in consultation with Justice Department headquarters in Washington.

The Department of Justice has an important role in deterring and combating discrimination and intimidation at the polls, threats of violence directed at election officials and poll workers, and election fraud. The department will address these violations wherever they occur.

The department’s long-standing Election Day program furthers these goals and also seeks to ensure public confidence in the electoral process by providing local points of contact within the department for the public to report possible federal election law violations.

In addition, the FBI will have special agents available in each field office and resident agency throughout the country to receive allegations of election fraud and other election abuses on Election Day. The Nashville division of the FBI, which covers the entire state of Tennessee, can be reached by the public at 865 544-0751.

VHRxS service to streamline drug launches

Vanderbilt Health Rx Solutions (VHRxS) is launching a service to revolutionize the way specialty drug manufacturers and health systems collaborate to enhance patient care and optimize drug launches.

With a proven track record in helping health systems build, operate and sustain successful pharmacy programs, VHRxS’ new manufacturer consulting service will bridge the long-standing gap between specialty drug manufacturers and health systems to integrate efficient delivery networks for optimized drug launches and partnerships.

VHRxS, a wholly owned subsidiary of Vanderbilt University Medical Center, is partnering with Vanderbilt Specialty Pharmacy, a dually accredited, advanced practice integrated health system specialty pharmacy serving VUMC patients who take specialty medications.

The novel service line is designed to tackle the challenges faced by manufacturers and health systems, which often operate in silos leading to redundant work and inefficiencies.

TN Oncology partners with The Surgical Clinic

Tennessee Oncology, a nationally recognized independent oncology practice that treats nearly half the state’s cancer patients across 35 clinics, has added The Surgical Clinic to its network.

TSC, a highly regarded, physician-owned, surgical specialty practice comprising 42 surgeons and 15 advanced practice providers, offers advanced, patient-centered surgical care across a range of disciplines to patients in Tennessee and Kentucky. TSC will join Tennessee Oncology as a surgical division in January 2025 and will retain its well-established brand.

The Surgical Clinic has nearly 300 team members across 17 clinic locations, satellite clinics and office-based labs throughout Tennessee and Kentucky. Their expertise spans a wide range of specialties including general surgery, surgical oncology, bariatric surgery, breast surgery, vascular & endovascular surgery, veins, plastic surgery and podiatry. In addition, TSC, which was formed in 1997, has also established several Vascular Procedure Centers, TSC Prosthetics and accredited ultrasound labs.

This collaboration allows Tennessee Oncology the opportunity to extend its comprehensive care offerings across Tennessee, North Georgia and neighboring Southeast regions, minimizing the need for patients to travel long distances for top-tier treatment options.

91 of 95 counties below 5% unemployment rate

Ninety-one of Tennessee’s 95 counties reported unemployment rates below 5% in September even as most counties saw an uptick in their rates over the previous month, according to data from the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development.

Unemployment rates in 77 counties increased from August to September. Rates decreased in five counties and remained the same in 13 counties.

Sevier and Moore counties recorded the state’s lowest unemployment rates for the month at 2.7%. Sevier County’s rate was 0.2% higher than in August, while Moore County’s rate was up 0.1%.

Williamson County had the third-lowest rate for September at 2.8%, 0.1% higher than the previous month.

The same three counties reported the lowest unemployment rates for the state in August as well.

McNairy County in southwestern Tennessee had the highest unemployment rate in the state last month. At 5.5%, the rate was 0.3% higher than in August.

Houston County had the next-highest unemployment rate for the month. Still, the county’s rate was 5.4%, a 0.2% drop over August’s rate.

Data released last week showed that Tennessee’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 3.2% in September. While up slightly over the previous month, the state’s rate is still nearly 1 full percentage point below the national rate of 4.1%.

The state and national rates are adjusted to account for seasonal impacts on employment, while the county rates are not.

MTSU: Business leaders’ sentiment hits 3-year high

Tennessee business leaders have a much more favorable view of economic conditions heading into fall and winter, according to results from the latest Tennessee Business Barometer Survey by MTSU’s Jones College of Business.

The latest statewide index, which measures business leaders’ perceptions of the current and future economy, produced a score of 476, up 33 points from the spring survey. The inaugural survey in July 2015 registered an index of 325.

Conducted in partnership with the Tennessee Chamber of Commerce & Industry, the Tennessee Business Barometer is an online opinion survey that now tracks an overall index and three subindices: current outlook, future outlook and business/firm performance.

Index scores are calculated from the percentages of positive and negative responses to more than a dozen questions about perceptions of the economy.

“Business sentiment continues to improve, now at a three-year high of 42%. That’s in contrast to Tennessee consumers, whose positive sentiment is only at 17%,” notes Michael Peasley, assistant professor of marketing and director of the Jones College’s Office of Consumer Research, which oversees the index. “Tennessee business leaders appear to be more positive and more optimistic about the current and future health of the economy.”

Peasley further notes the survey shows 43% of business leaders expect economic conditions to improve over the next 12 months, 49% of business leaders believe economic conditions in their industry are good and 46% expect conditions to improve over the next 12 months.

Peasley also noted that business leader concerns have diminished.

Four MNPS schools to get magnet programs

For the fourth time in the past decade, Metro Nashville Public Schools has been awarded a highly competitive federal Magnet Schools Assistance Program grant from the U.S. Department of Education.

This five-year grant, totaling nearly $15 million, will fund the creation of innovative whole-school magnet programs in four schools across the district. This follows the successful MSAP award received by MNPS in 2023, further expanding the district’s commitment to offering high-quality, specialized educational opportunities.

MNPS will begin the immediate implementation of the grant, continuing its mission of fostering equitable access to high-quality instruction and innovative educational pathways for all students.

“This prestigious grant reinforces our district’s unwavering dedication to providing transformative, world-class education for every student,” says Dr. Adrienne Battle, director of Metro Schools. “With this funding, we are poised to create dynamic, engaging learning environments that inspire creativity, challenge minds, and prepare students for bright futures.”

Four schools have been selected to benefit from the grant and will transition into whole-school magnet programs. They are:

• Glenview Elementary School: Spanish immersion magnet, grades pre-K to 5.

• Paragon Mills Elementary School: Spanish immersion magnet, grades pre-K to 5

• Stratton Elementary School: International baccalaureate Spanish immersion magnet, grades pre-K to 5.

• Brick Church Middle School: early college magnet, grades 6 to 8.

SBA grants Belmont program $100K

The U.S. Small Business Administration announced that the Tennessee Export Initiative at Belmont University will receive a $100,000 grant to support export growth among small businesses through SBA’s competitive State Trade Expansion Program.

This award is part of $20 million in STEP grants awarded nationally in 2024, bringing the total funds awarded since the program’s inception to $255 million. The Tennessee Export Initiative, supported by Belmont’s Thomas W. Beasley Center for Free Enterprise, will use this grant to foster international trade opportunities for Tennessee businesses.

STEP, created by the Small Business Jobs Act of 2010, aims to help small businesses enter and expand into international markets. Through this program, eligible Tennessee small businesses can apply for up to $7,000 in reimbursement for export activities during the project year (October 2024-September 2025).

The SBA funds this grant, with matching support from the Tennessee District Export Council, a nonprofit organization of international business executives, promotes export opportunities for Tennessee companies and facilitates communication between the business community and the U.S. Commercial Service.

“This is an exciting opportunity both for small businesses throughout the state of Tennessee and for Belmont University. These grants have the potential to propel many small, entrepreneurial Tennessee companies into global trade at a time when international markets are driving growth around the world,” says Dr. Jeff Overby, director of the Tennessee Export Initiative and professor of international business and marketing. “We expect this initiative to draw on faculty expertise and engage Belmont students through internships, case studies and international trade education. We are proud to administer these funds to help Tennessee small businesses thrive.”