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Cannon County Lions Advance to Second Round of Playoffs with 31-0 Shutout and early dismissal on Friday, November 13th at 1:00pm. The Cannon County Lions football team has advanced to the second round of the playoffs after a dominant 31-0 home victory over York Institute in the first round. The win marks only the third time in program history that the Lions have advanced past the opening round of the postseason.

Cannon County will face Tellico Plains on Friday, November 13, at 7:00 p.m. Eastern Time at Bear Stadium at Tellico Plains High School, located at 120 Old High School Rd., Tellico Plains, TN 37385.

“These young men and our coaching staff have put in countless hours of hard work, and it has shown on the field. We could not be more proud of this team. The players and coaches have worked hard, and this group has earned the chance to keep playing,” said Principal Courtney Nichols.

The Lions and coaching staff thank the students, families, and community members who have supported the team all season, and they encourage fans to travel to Tellico Plains on Friday night to cheer on the Lions.

Game Details

● Matchup: Cannon County Lions vs. Tellico Plains

● Date: Friday, November 13, 2026

● Time: 7:00 p.m. ET

● Location: Bear Stadium, Tellico Plains High School, 120 Old High School Rd., Tellico Plains, TN 37385

● Tickets: Advance tickets for your game will be sold via the GoFan digital ticket platform (https://gofan.co/tssaa) for $8 each. Check the Cannon County Lions Football Facebook page or the Cannon County High School Athletics page for additional ticket information, if available.

WBRY will continue to follow the Lions this Friday with live coverage.

SPECIAL BROADCAST TIME

Pregame coverage for the game Friday 13th will begin with Lions Roar at 5:30pm. The broadcast from Bears Stadium at 5:45pm on WBRY with Matt Daniel, Will Caster and Chris Robinson.

As students across Tennessee head back to school, the Department of Safety and Homeland Security is encouraging families, educators, and community members to download and use the SafeTN app — a confidential reporting tool designed to help prevent school safety threats before they escalate.

The SafeTN app allows users to quickly and anonymously submit concerns related to school safety, including potential threats, suspicious behavior, or mental health crises. Tips are monitored by trained analysts who work closely with law enforcement and education partners to assess and respond to potential risks.

With the new school year underway, the Department of Safety is urging Tennesseans to help promote a culture of awareness and early intervention.

You can learn more about the SafeTN app or download it at: tn.gov/safety/homeland-security/safetn.html.

The Tennessee Higher Education Commission (THEC) announced that TN Direct Admissions is underway for the Class of 2027, giving high school seniors more time and information to plan their path after high school. To receive personalized admission offers and estimated financial aid information through TN Direct Admissions, students must first complete the TN Promise application.

Students who apply by August 17 are expected to receive their first TN Direct Admissions letter in September. Additional letters will be mailed on a rolling basis throughout the fall, with the final TN Promise application deadline on November 2. The earlier students apply, the sooner they can explore their college opportunities.

“TN Direct Admissions is changing the way Tennessee students think about college by putting opportunities directly in front of them earlier in the process,” said Dr. Steven Gentile, THEC Executive Director. “By completing the TN Promise application, students can take the first step toward receiving personalized college opportunities and financial information that can help them make confident decisions about their future.”

Now in its second year, TN Direct Admissions provides eligible Tennessee high school seniors with automatic admission offers and estimated financial aid information from 63 participating colleges and universities. For the Class of 2027, all eligible seniors in public, private, and home school settings will receive automatic admission offers and estimated financial aid, expected to reach roughly 70,000 students statewide.

TN Direct Admissions complements TN Promise, Tennessee’s last-dollar scholarship program that covers tuition and mandatory fees at community colleges, Tennessee Colleges of Applied Technology (TCATs), and other eligible institutions. Students must complete the TN Promise application to be eligible to receive a TN Direct Admissions letter.

What Students Need to Know:

• Apply now: Complete the TN Promise application through the THEC Student Portal at CollegeforTN.org to become eligible for TN Direct Admissions.
• Receive opportunities sooner: TN Direct Admissions letters will be sent on a rolling basis through the fall. First round of letters will go to students who apply by August 17.
• Deadline: Students must complete the TN Promise application by the final deadline of November 2, 2026.

The launch follows a first-year pilot study involving 57 Tennessee colleges and universities. During the pilot, more than 45,000 students in the Class of 2026 received personalized admission offers, with approximately half receiving early financial aid estimates.

By moving the TN Promise application timeline earlier, Tennessee students and families have more time to explore college options, compare opportunities, and make informed decisions before graduation.

Students can complete the TN Promise application through the THEC Student Portal. For more information about TN Direct Admissions, TN Promise, and other college access resources, visit CollegeForTN.org.

State Rep. Michael Hale is encouraging eligible families in Cannon, DeKalb and Jackson counties to access Tennessee’s Summer Nutrition Initiative, which provides a one-time $120 food benefit to qualifying children during the summer months.

The program will serve eligible children in 13 counties identified by the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) as having limited access to summer meal sites. Cannon, DeKalb, Smith and Jackson Counties, all located within District 40, represented by Rep. Hale, are among the 13 counties approved to participate in the initiative.

Administered by the Tennessee Department of Human Services (TDHS), the Summer Nutrition Initiative launched in 2025 as a state-funded effort to provide additional nutritional assistance to families in underserved counties and help offset increased food costs when children are out of school and no longer have access to routine school meals.

Building on that commitment, the Tennessee General Assembly recently approved the state’s participation in the federally funded Summer EBT program beginning in 2027, expanding access to summer nutrition assistance for eligible families access food assistance.

“As someone who grew up in a family that faced food insecurity, I understand the challenges many families encounter when trying to put nutritious foods on the table,” said Hale. “This program helps provide peace of mind for parents while ensuring children in our communities have access to the nutrition they need not only to survive, but thrive.”

The one-time Summer Nutrition Initiative benefit is available to children who:

• Are between the ages of 5 and 18 as of May 1, 2026
• Are members of an open and active Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and/or Families First Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) case as of May 31, 2026 and reside in one of the 13 eligible counties participating in the initiative

Eligible households do not need to apply, as benefits will be loaded onto existing Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards and may be used anywhere EBT is accepted for food purchases.

Additional information about the Summer Nutrition Initiative is available at TN.Gov/HumanServices/Summer-Nutrition-Initiative.html

The Tennessee Department of Education (TDOE) has released the 2025-26 Tennessee Comprehensive Assessment Program (TCAP) state–level results, showing growth in academic proficiency among students statewide. Third grade student achievement reached its highest level since at least 2017 in English Language Arts (ELA), and fourth graders also made substantial proficiency gains in mathematics. 

These statewide results include exams in English Language Arts (ELA), mathematics, and social studies, but do not include science, which is in a standard-setting year. View the state-level overview and find the full 2025-26 TCAP assessment data on TDOE’s Data Downloads webpage in the State Assessments section under the Assessment Files tab.

2025-26 State Level TCAP Highlights

English Language Arts (ELA)

• 3.2 percentage point increase from last year’s proficiency rate for third grade
• 2.7 percentage point increase from last year’s proficiency rate for eighth grade
• 3.8 percentage point increase from last year’s proficiency rate in English II

Math

• 3.6 percentage point increase from last year’s proficiency for fourth grade
• 5.6 percentage point increase from last year’s Geometry proficiency for high school

Social Studies

• 11.4 percentage point increase statewide since 2019
• 3.4 percentage point increase from last year’s proficiency for sixth grade
• 3.0 percentage point increase from last year’s proficiency for seventh grade
• 3.8 percentage point increase from last year’s proficiency for U.S. History

In July, individual student data will be available in the TCAP Family Portal. Families can use the portal to obtain additional information to better understand their students’ individual score reports and the next steps for supporting their students’ academic progress. View TDOE’s assessment webpage for more information. 

Sustaining Student Success

During a special legislative session in 2021, the General Assembly enacted the Tennessee Literacy Success Act and the Tennessee Learning Loss Remediation and Student Acceleration Act, which ensured that students would recover from post-pandemic learning loss. Tennessee students have surpassed prior TCAP proficiency rates across content areas as schools continue to focus on learning acceleration.

Tennessee has invested in strong student supports, such as early literacy training, summer learning camps, and high-dosage tutoring, along with ongoing professional learning opportunities for educators, all of which have supported year-over-year gains in student proficiency. The upward trajectory in proficiency has been evident not only in the early grades but also in recent improvements in achievement and sustained momentum across content areas in middle school.

The Tennessee Department of Human Services (TDHS) has opened applications for the 2025 Families First Community Grant Program, an initiative that will make available approximately $27 million in funding to non-profit organizations providing direct services to strengthen Tennessee families in need and promote self-sufficiency. Qualifying non-profit organizations are invited to apply here through July 10 at 5 p.m. CT. 

“At TDHS, we believe that sustainable change begins at the community level,” said Commissioner Clarence H. Carter. “Through the Families First Community Grant Program, we are investing in local-level partners who understand the unique challenges of our vulnerable population and their community. Our goal is to strengthen Tennessee’s safety net by empowering families with the tools, resources, and opportunities they need to thrive, not just for today, but for generations to come.”

The Families First Community Grant program was created as an additional method to invest TANF funds in ways to help low-income families overcome barriers and help them move towards sustainable economic stability. The grants will support a wide range of services in the areas of education, health and well-being, economic stability and fostering safe, stable, and nurturing relationships. Grant recipients will be selected through a competitive application process and evaluated based upon their ability to provide effective services and programs that address the specific needs of the community.

TDHS encourages all community-based, nonprofit organizations ready to play a central role in the design and implementation of programs that address the unique problems of low-income families in their communities and fosters at least one of the federal TANF goals to submit an application for a Families First Community Grant. The department is focused on partnering with organizations that can provide family-focused solutions that demonstrate measurable impacts designed with the goal of transforming Tennessee’s safety net by growing the capacity of vulnerable families to self-sufficiency and economic prosperity.

Road Construction will not delay motorists traveling Tennessee’s highways this Memorial Day weekend. The Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) will suspend all construction-related lane closures on interstates and state routes from noon on Friday, May 23, through 6:00 a.m. on Tuesday, May 27. This will provide maximum roadway capacity for the record-breaking number of motorists expected to take a road trip in the state this Memorial Day weekend.

AAA predicts 948,388 Tennesseans will travel for Memorial Day, with the majority, 800,250, driving to their destination. That’s compared to 783,595 last year.

“We want to do our part to help everyone have an enjoyable and safe holiday weekend and keep traffic flowing as smoothly and efficiently as possible,” said Deputy Governor & TDOT Commissioner Butch Eley. “We also want to remind drivers that it is the law to move over and slow down for first responders and emergency vehicles, including TDOT HELP trucks that will be on patrol during the holiday weekend. So far this year, we’ve had 47 incidents where a driver hit a TDOT vehicle or equipment.”

Motorists may still encounter lane closures or restrictions while traveling through long-term construction projects. In addition, drivers should know that reduced speed limits will be in effect in work zones. Drivers convicted of speeding through work zones where workers are present face a fine of up to $500, plus court fees and possibly increased insurance premiums.

Get the latest construction activity from your desktop or mobile device and live streaming SmartWay traffic cameras at www.TNSmartWay.com/Traffic. Travelers can also call 511 for travel information. As always, drivers are reminded to use all motorist information tools wisely and Know Before You Go! by checking travel conditions before leaving for their destination. Drivers should never tweet, text, or talk on a cell phone while behind the wheel.

State Rep. Michael Hale honors Tennessee’s fallen officers Back the Blue Act to become law July 1 State Rep. Michael Hale, R-Smithville, today commemorated National Police Week and urged local residents to honor and remember law enforcement officers who made the ultimate sacrifice, as well as the family members, friends, and fellow officers they left behind.

The names of 282 officers killed in the line of duty will be added to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, DC. on May 15.

“The brave men and women of our law enforcement community work diligently every day to keep us safe,” Hale said. “We must never forget their sacrifices and the incredibly difficult work they do to protect Tennesseans from harm.”

Seven fallen officers are from Tennessee and include Sgt. James Russ, Chattanooga Police Dept; Deputy Tucker Blakely, Knox County Sheriff’s Office; Sgt. William Cherry, Macon County Sheriff’s Office; Deputy Shannon Lang Sr., Marion County Police Dept.; Officer Geoffrey Redd, Memphis Police Dept., and Chief Christopher Cummings, Samburg Police Dept. Town Marshal Thomas Neely, Middleton Police Dept. was killed in the line of duty in 1899.

Hale and his Republican colleagues took steps this year to strengthen laws to protect police officers against assault with the Back the Blue Act.

The new law, which goes into effect July 1, offers additional protections that will enhance the penalty for assault against a law enforcement officer from a Class A misdemeanor to a Class E felony punishable by a mandatory minimum 60-day sentence and a $10,000 fine.

“There should be significant consequences for anyone who assaults a member of law enforcement in Tennessee,” Hale said. “I am proud of this new law, and remain committed to supporting all the dedicated first responders we have in Tennessee.”

In Tennessee, assaulting a first responder, including nurses, firefighters, and emergency services personnel, is a Class A misdemeanor punishable by 30 days in jail and a $5,000 fine. Assault includes knowingly causing bodily injury or knowingly causing offensive physical contact, including spitting, throwing or transferring bodily fluids, human pathogens or waste onto a first responder.

There were 1,603 simple assaults on law enforcement officers last year in Tennessee, according to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation. Sixty police officers across Tennessee have died in the line of duty since 2019, according to the Officer Down Memorial Page, a non-profit dedicated to honoring fallen officers across the United States.

State Rep. Michael Hale represents House District 40, which includes Cannon, DeKalb, Jackson, Smith and parts of Wilson County.

Today, Tennessee Governor Bill Lee celebrated March 2-6 as Read Across America Week and proclaimed it Literacy Month in Tennessee, highlighting the Administration’s continued work to strengthen literacy and prepare young readers for success. Governor Lee partnered with the Governor’s Early Literacy Foundation and Cheatham County School District to visit students and distribute books at Pleasant View Elementary School.

“Tennessee students are leading the nation in reading proficiency gains thanks to our state’s strong K-3^rd grade literacy strategy, and in the month of March, we’re recognizing our continued commitment to literacy,” said Gov. Lee. “I’m grateful to partner with the Governor’s Early Literacy Foundation, which is shaping the future of our state by fostering a love of reading in our youngest learners.”

Lee’s Fiscal Year 2024-25 budget proposal includes more than $33 million in state funding to continue prioritizing K-3 literacy programs to provide students with multiple pathways to becoming a strong reader.

The proposal builds upon Lee’s strategy to boost K-12 literacy and address learning loss with strong support and resources beginning in kindergarten, including free tutoring, summer camps or options for re-testing.