The Newport Plain Talk

1 day ago | newportplaintalk.com | Kim Jarrett

(The Center Square) – Enrollment in Tennessee's colleges and universities is up by almost 5,000 students, a jump of 2.3% from 2023, according to a report from the Tennessee Higher Education Commission. The most significant increases are in the state's community colleges, according to the 2025 Tennessee Higher Education Fact Book, which compares 2024 fall enrollment numbers with 2023 numbers. kAmr92EE2?@@82 $E2E6 r@>>F?:EJ r@==686 :D @?6 6I2>A=6 @7 2 A@DE\A2?56>:4 4=:>3 :?

2 days ago | newportplaintalk.com | Kim Jarrett

(The Center Square) – Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee said Chattanooga has changed since he began visiting as a 10-year-old and more change is coming thanks in part to a $15 million investment from the state. The governor was joined by city and state leaders at a ceremony touting the project which will include a new signature playground, food and beverage options, a pier cafe and lawn spaces for events to the city's Riverfront Park. kAmQ%96C6 H:== 36 64@?@>:4 24E:G:EJ D:>A=J 3642FD6 @7 E96 :?G6DE>6?E :?

2 days ago | newportplaintalk.com | Sam Stockard

Sen. Shane Reeves, R-Murfreesboro, received a $1 million grant from the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development to start a business which has since received a tax rebate from the state. (Photo: John Partipilo/Tennessee Lookout)kAmkDA2? DEJ=6lQ7@?E\H6:89Ei c__Qm%9:CE66? @7 %6??6DD66’D bb D6?2E@CD 564=2C65 2 4@?7=:4E @7 :?E6C6DE 367@C6 G@E:?8 @? 2 S`]h 3:==:@? 3FD:?6DD E2I 3C62< :?

2 days ago | newportplaintalk.com | Anita Wadhwani

Johnson City Medical Center, a flagship hospital for Ballad Health, has received a rating of one star out of five from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.(Brett Kelman/KFF Health News)kAmkDA2? DEJ=6lQ7@?E\H6:89Ei c__Qm#FC2= %6??6DD66 =@DE 9F?5C65D @7 :?56A6?56?E A9JD:4:2?D @G6C 2 7@FC\J62C A6C:@5 2D E96 @G6C2== ?F>36C @7 5@4E@CD D6CG:?8 A2E:6?ED D9C2?< 2E E96 D2>6 E:>6 4@CA@C2E6 4@?D@=:52E:@? DH2==@H65 DE2?52=@?6 >65:42= AC24E:46D[ 2 DEF5J 7C@> 2 A9JD:4:2?

3 days ago | newportplaintalk.com | Kim Jarrett

(The Center Square) – The Beacon Center and the city of Nashville have settled a class action lawsuit over stormwater capacity fees. Peyton Pratt sued the city after he was charged more than $6,000 in fees when he expanded his residence, according to a release from the Beacon Center, which represented Pratt. kAm}2D9G:==6 6?24E65 E96 ?6H 766 DECF4EFC6 7@C C6D:56?ED @3E2:?:?8 3F:=5:?8 A6C>:ED :? u63CF2CJ a_ac] %96 >@?6J 7C@> E96 766D H2D 2==@42E65 E@ 7F?5 42A:E2= :>AC@G6>6?ED :?