Latest news with #RebeccaAlexander
Business Journals
23-04-2025
- Health
- Business Journals
Unstoppable positivity: Living life boldly with Usher syndrome — featuring Rebecca Alexander and VHC Health's Dr. Linda Lang
In this episode of Living Well with Alison Starling, a podcast brought to you by VHC Health and WBJ, Rebecca Alexander shares her experience with Usher Syndrome and VHC Health's Dr. Linda Lang weighs in on managing a difficult diagnosis.
Yahoo
10-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Amended bill would give Johnson City power to set alcohol sale hours
JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (WJHL) — An amended bill that would give the Johnson City Commission the authority to set its own hours for alcohol sales downtown will be up for discussion in a subcommittee meeting Tuesday. House Bill 1361 and Senate Bill 1155 were initially filed by State Rep. Rebecca Alexander and Sen. Rusty Crowe on Feb. 6. When first introduced, the language of the bill sought to provide a grace period on tax returns related to alcohol sales. JC Commission asks for state legislation that would allow alcohol sale hours change However, the text of the bill has since been amended practically in its entirety. An amendment signed by Alexander states the bill would only affect the 'downtown district' of a 'home rule municipality in a county having a population of not less than one hundred thirty-three thousand (133,000) and not more than one hundred thirty-three thousand one hundred (133,100), according to the 2020 or a subsequent federal census.' In 2020, a census found the population of Washington County, TN was 133,001. The bill would grant a city meeting those requirements to set its own hours in the downtown district for licensed businesses to sell or give away alcoholic beverages. The House Departments & Agencies Subcommittee will discuss the amended bill Tuesday at 11:30 a.m. The entire amendment can be read below: HB1361_Amendment (004732) by on Scribd On Feb. 13, the Johnson City Commission unanimously passed a resolution to support state legislation that would give the city the ability to limit the hours in which alcohol is sold downtown. City manager Cathy Ball provided data in a presentation and claimed the purpose of seeking the legislation was to promote safety and make better use of police resources. Johnson City mayor talks next steps for alcohol sale hours resolution During that Feb. 13 meeting, Ball told commissioners that a bill had already been filed with state lawmakers awaiting the city's approval before moving forward. Several downtown business owners and those who work in downtown bars and businesses attended the meeting to voice their opposition and claimed that forcing an earlier last call would have economic consequences for the city. News Channel 11 has reached out to Rep. Alexander and Sen. Crowe for further details on the bill. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Axios
06-03-2025
- Politics
- Axios
Tennessee is close to requiring school cellphone bans
Tennessee is inching closer to banning cellphones in classrooms. Why it matters: Bans like these, which have become popular nationwide, are designed to reduce distractions in K-12 schools while protecting students' mental health. The big picture: 68% of U.S. adults support cellphone bans during class, and about 36% favor an all-day ban, a Pew Research survey found last year. Those who oppose the bans, especially parents of K-12 students, cited the ability to reach their children when needed, according to the poll. State of play: A cellphone ban stalled in the Tennessee legislature last year, but a tweaked version has advanced quickly and with bipartisan support in 2025. HB 932 would require school systems to establish policies that prohibit cellphones and other "wireless communication devices" during instructional time. The measure passed in the House Monday. It could face its final vote in the Senate as soon as Thursday. Zoom in: The bill, which was crafted with input from statewide education groups, includes several exceptions. For instance, students with disabilities could use phones or special apps they need for schoolwork. Teachers could allow students to use cellphones for educational purposes, and students could use phones in emergencies. It would be up to individual districts to set parameters for those exceptions. What they're saying: State Rep. Rebecca Alexander (R-Jonesborough), the lead sponsor, said districts would have plenty of flexibility to determine the specifics of their local bans. Some school districts might ban phones all day, while others might only prohibit them during class. "It is a very permissive bill and it allows each school board to set up their own policy," Alexander said in a legislative hearing last month. Reality check: Most Tennessee school districts, including Metro, already have bans in place. Some are stricter than the basic plan laid out in this legislation. Alexander said superintendents asked her to bring the bill forward. The bottom line:"We're setting a minimum level of expectation of what we believe is in the best interest of the students," Rep. Scott Cepicky (R-Culleoka) said during a hearing.
Yahoo
04-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Tennessee House requires school districts to prohibit cell phones during student instruction
A bill passed with bipartisan support in the Tennessee House requires schools to ban cell phones during instructional hours.(Photo illustration by) The Tennessee House overwhelmingly approved a measure Monday requiring schools to ban cell phone use when teachers are instructing students. House Bill 932, sponsored by Republican Rep. Rebecca Alexander of Jonesborough, passed with bipartisan support on an 80-10 vote. Although some school districts have had cell-phone policies for years to avert classroom distractions, Alexander said the state's school superintendents association asked her to sponsor the bill. She explained that school districts will have to adopt a policy but will have the discretion to determine whether the ban is in effect during class time or the entire school day. Some Democrats raised concerns that students wouldn't be able to contact their parents during emergencies such as shootings. But others, including Democratic Rep. G.A. Hardaway of Memphis, said scientific studies show that constant use of cell phones causes children's brains to develop differently, affecting their ability to grow up 'naturally.' Another Democrat, Rep. Caleb Hemmer of Nashville said he has received 'positive' feedback from teachers and counselors in his children's schools since they enacted a cell phone policy. The bill, which also applies to tablet and laptop computers and gaming devices, authorizes teachers to let students use wireless communication devices for educational purposes during instructional time and during emergencies or to manage their health. Students also would be permitted to use cell phones if they're included in an individualized education program, typically for special education students. District policies also must set a procedure for parents and guardians to be contacted during emergencies. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
04-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Classroom cellphone ban bill passes TN House
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — A bill requiring all Tennessee school districts to adopt policies banning cellphone use in classrooms is one step closer to becoming law. Monday, March 3, lawmakers in the Tennessee House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed , by Rep. Rebecca Alexander (R-Jonesborough), by a vote of 80-10, with one lawmaker abstaining. PREVIOUS: Bill to let schools ban, collect cellphones gains bipartisan support According to the text of the bill, school districts in Tennessee would be required to adopt a policy governing the use of any 'wireless communication device,' including but not limited to cellphones, tablets, laptops and gaming devices. The policy must contain a provision prohibiting the use of the wireless communication device during instructional time unless it is being used for educational purposes or it is necessary to use the device for the student's health or an emergency. Additionally, an amendment made to the bill during the House floor debate on Monday allows for the devices to be used if they are included in the student's individualized education program (IEP) under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), or under an active 504 plan under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. The bill's text also outlines a pathway for parents and guardians to contact students in the event of an emergency. If passed in the Senate and sent to Gov. Bill Lee for his signature, the law would take effect on July 1 and begin for the 2025-2026 school year and every school year thereafter. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
