Latest news with #Tennesseans
Yahoo
16 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Tennessee residents earn among the lowest hourly wages in the country but work more than the average hours in the U.S.
Data for May 2025 shows Tennesseans are among the lowest-earning hourly workers in the country. The Bureau of Labor Statistics released its total private average hourly earnings by state, along with the average weekly earnings and the average number of hours Americans work per week for May 2025. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Tennessee had the ninth-lowest average for hourly earnings in the United States. Here's what the average hourly wage for Tennessee was and how it compares to the rest of the country. What is the average hourly pay in Tennessee? In May 2025, Tennessee residents were earning an average hourly wage of $30.81, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. This figure is not seasonally adjusted. Nationally, Tennessee had one of the lowest average hourly wages, while working an average of 34.4 hours a week, which is higher than the median for the country at 33.9 hours. With the average hourly wage and hours worked, Tennesseans on average bring home $1,059.86 a week, which translates to $55,112.72 annually. Tennessee's average hourly pay is the ninth lowest in the country. States with lower average hourly wages include: Oklahoma, Iowa, Kentucky, West Virginia, Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, and Mississippi. How does Tennessee compare to other southern states? Tennessee is among the lowest-paying states in the South and the country as a whole. Virginia: $35.98, up from $35.94 in April 2025. Florida: $34.09, up from $33.85 in April 2025. Georgia: $33.93, down from $33.95 in April 2025. North Carolina: $33.60, down from $33.68 in April 2025. South Carolina: $31.48, up from $31.08in April 2025. Alabama: $31.15, up from $31.08 in April 2025. Tennessee: $30.81, up from $30.68 in April 2025. Kentucky: $30.01, down from $30.07 in April 2025 Arkansas: $29.79, up from $29.69 in April 2025. Louisiana: $29.53, up from $29.38 in April 2025. Mississippi: $27.95, up from $27.88 in April 2025. States with the highest hourly earners Out of all 50 states, here are the places with the highest average hourly pay: Massachusetts: $42.21, with 33.3 hours per week. Washington: $41.99, with 34.6 hours per week. California: $40.69, with 33.2 hours per week. Minnesota: $39.26, with 32.8 hours per week. Colorado: $39.02, with 33.0 hours per week. New York: $38.91, with 32.7 hours per week. Connecticut: $38.88, with 33.4 hours per week. Alaska: $37.85, with 34.6 hours per week. New Jersey: $37.82, with 33.2 hours per week. Hawaii: $37.34, with 32.7 hours per week. What is the minimum wage in Tennessee? Technically, Tennessee has no state minimum wage and defaults to the federal minimum wage of $7.25. There are 34 states, territories, and districts with minimum wages that exceed the federal standard. The other 20 states or territories have a minimum wage of $7.25. In 2024, Rep. Gloria Johnson, D-Knoxville, proposed a bill to raise the minimum wage to $20 an hour in Tennessee, but the bill failed. Two years prior, Sen. Sara Kyle, D-Memphis, proposed a bill to raise the minimum wage to $12 in 2023, $13 in 2024, $14 in 2025, and $15 in 2026. This bill also failed. What is the living wage in Tennessee? A living wage is the hourly rate that an individual must earn to support themselves and their family while working full-time at 2,080 hours a year. According to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's living wage calculator, a single adult with no children living in Tennessee should earn $20.77 to achieve a living wage. The poverty wage for the same person is $7.24, meaning minimum wage pays one cent above the poverty level. In a household with two working parents and no children, each person would need to make $14.07 to have a living wage. The poverty rate wage for these people would be $4.91. A traditional family of four would need to have both parents making $23.53 an hour. The poverty wage for this family is $7.50 an hour. Jordan Green covers trending news for The Commercial Appeal. She can be reached at This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: What is the average hourly pay in Tennessee? Where the state ranks
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Thinking of heading to Florida? Flesh-eating bacteria has been found in these counties
Tennesseans planning on squeezing in a last-minute vacation to Florida before the start of school should be aware of a rare "flesh-eating" bacteria. Florida health officials announced on July 11 that four people had died and at least seven others were made sick due to Vibrio vulnificus, a rare but deadly flesh-eating bacteria that seems to be plentiful in the warm climate in Florida. The deaths occurred in four different counties across the state. It is rare, with an average of 150 to 200 cases reported each year to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. And as hurricane season continues to bear down on Florida, the number of infections could pick up as seawater is brought to the shores. Here's what you need to know. Where is Vibrio vulnificus or the flesh-eating bacteria found? The bacteria is found in saltwater, brackish water and inside contaminated raw or undercooked seafood. It also lives naturally in coastal waters year-round. Vibrio vulnificus requires saltwater to live and spread, though it can thrive in brackish water. For the most part, the bacterial infections usually occur in Gulf Coast states, but in recent years, reports of Vibrio vulnificus have started to be seen further North as climate change fuels warmer oceans. Where case of flesh-eating bacteria have been found in Florida: In Florida, confirmed cases of Vibrio vulnificus were found in 10 counties, including four in the Panhandle — a frequent vacation destination for Nashville residents. They are: Bay County: 1 Broward County: 1 Duval County: 1 Escambia County: 1 Hillsborough County: 1 Lee County: 1 Manatee County: 1 St. Johns County: 2 Santa Rosa County: 1 Walton County: 1 How can a person become infected with a flesh-eating bacterium? Infection can occur when people swallow contaminated water or if it gets into an open wound. People can also become infected due to contaminated raw or undercooked seafood, especially shellfish such as oysters. Why is Vibrio vulnificus called a flesh-eating bacteria? Healthy individuals usually experience only mild symptoms, but it can start eating away at flesh if it gets into an open wound and can cause necrotizing fasciitis. This causes the flesh around the wound to die. Some cases of exposure can turn deadly if this happens or it enters the bloodstream. "Vibrio vulnificus bloodstream infections are fatal about 50 percent of the time," according to the Florida Department of Health. According to the CDC, about one in five people die from the infection, sometimes within one to two days of becoming ill. Others could require surgery or even amputation after exposure. What are the symptoms of Vibrio vulnificus? People who are exposed to it could experience diarrhea, stomach cramps, nausea, vomiting and fever, according to the CDC. If an open wound is exposed to Vibrio vulnificus, it can cause discoloration, swelling, skin breakdown and ulcers. How do I avoid exposure to flesh-eating bacteria? Here's what the CDC and Florida Department of Health recommend: Stay out of saltwater and brackish water if you have an open wound or cut. If you get a cut while you are in the water, leave the water immediately. If your open wounds and cuts could come in contact with salt water, brackish water or raw or undercooked seafood, cover them with a waterproof bandage. Cook shellfish (oysters, clams, mussels) thoroughly. Avoid cross-contamination of cooked seafood and other foods with raw seafood and juices from raw seafood. Always wash your hands with soap and water after handling raw shellfish. Seek medical attention right away for infected wounds. Contributing: USA TODAY Network This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Florida has a rare flesh-eating bacteria. Which counties to avoid Solve the daily Crossword
Axios
07-07-2025
- Health
- Axios
Tennessee tries to boost awareness of 988 mental health hotline
Tennessee recently launched a new suicide prevention effort urging people to lean on the 988 mental health crisis hotline and other resources during times of crisis. Why it matters: Suicide is one of the leading causes of death in Tennessee, and the suicide rate here is about 20% higher than the national average, according to state data. Driving the news: The new Promise to Call campaign encourages people to write down the name of a friend or supportive resource. Then participants promise to call if they ever have thoughts of suicide. Advocates also suggest adding 988 to your phone contacts as a backstop in times of crisis. What they're saying:"It is our belief that if someone makes a promise prior to a suicide crisis, it can save a life," said Commissioner Marie Williams, who oversees the Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services. Threat level: In 2023, the most recent full year of statistics, 1,279 Tennesseans died by suicide. Men and white Tennesseans have died by suicide at particularly high rates, according to state-specific data. The big picture: The 988 hotline launched in 2022 to help confront the national mental health crisis. But there is significant room for growth. According to a recent analysis, last year's nationwide 988 contact rate was less than half the rate of adult emergency room visits related to mental health, despite ERs' cost and access issues. By the numbers: Calls and texts to 988 in Tennessee have steadily increased. During fiscal year 2024, which ran from July 1, 2023-June 30, 2024, Tennessee logged 48,847 calls and 21,446 texts and web chats to 988. The state is already exceeding those figures this year. At the end of May, 11 months into the fiscal year, Tennessee had logged 53,656 calls and a whopping 32,674 texts and web chats. Zoom out: The Trump administration recently announced it would stop connecting LGBTQ+ youth in crisis who call 988 to the Trevor Project suicide hotline. This will limit callers' access to counselors trained in helping LGBTQ+ youth, as President Trump targets the group that is more than four times as likely to attempt suicide than peers. The Oasis Center, a Middle Tennessee youth support organization, offers tailored mental health resources for young LGBTQ+ people. Their 24/7 crisis line is 615-327-4455.
02-07-2025
- Business
Trump nominates 4 to Tennessee Valley Authority board after firing Biden picks
NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- President Donald Trump on Tuesday announced four nominees for the Tennessee Valley Authority's board, which for months has not had enough members to take many actions because Trump fired some of former President Joe Biden's picks. TVA is the nation's largest public utility and provides power to more than 10 million people across seven southern states. The White House said Trump's nominees for the federal utility are Tennesseans Lee Beaman, Mitch Graves and Jeff Hagood; and Randall Jones of Alabama. The selections follow Trump's firing of three Biden-nominated board members since late March. The board normally has nine members and requires five to make a quorum. It currently has three. Trump's picks would not be seated until the U.S. Senate confirms them. Without a quorum, TVA's board can take actions needed for ongoing operations but cannot jump into new areas of activity, start new programs or change the utility's existing direction. Beaman is a businessman who sold his Nashville-area fleet of car dealerships. He is also a prominent Republican political fundraiser. Graves is the CEO of West Cancer Center & Research Institute in Germantown, Tennessee, and he sits on the board of Memphis Light, Gas and Water. Hagood is a Knoxville attorney and sits on the Knoxville Sports Authority Board. He was helping fundraising efforts for Knox County Mayor Glenn Jacobs, the former WWE wrestler who had been flirting with a run for governor. Jones is an insurance agent and sits on the Jacksonville State University board, the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame board and the city of Guntersville Electric Board. In a March 20 guest column, Tennessee's two Republican U.S. senators urged TVA officials to opt for 'an interim CEO trusted by the president' before hiring someone long-term. They wrote that studies and hurdles under the TVA board were bogging down a project that seeks to build a small modular nuclear reactor. Then, Trump fired board member Michelle Moore on March 27. On March 31, the five remaining board members picked TVA's executive vice president and chief operating officer Don Moul to become the new CEO. Moul has since called for reevaluating the lifespan of TVA's fleet of coal plants. The utility has been planning to retire the last of them by 2035. But Trump has signed executive orders aimed at boosting the coal industry. On April 1, Trump fired board member Joe Ritch, leaving the board without a quorum. Months later, he fired Beth Geer from the board on June 10. This weekend, a guest column by Tennessee Republican Gov. Bill Lee called for a 'a new board and a clear, aggressive mission' to further Trump's goal of quadrupling domestic production of nuclear power within the next 25 years. Trump signed executive orders in May to speed up the development. Blackburn and Hagerty called for the new nominees' quick confirmation in the Senate.
Winnipeg Free Press
01-07-2025
- Business
- Winnipeg Free Press
Trump nominates 4 to Tennessee Valley Authority board after firing Biden picks
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — President Donald Trump on Tuesday announced four nominees for the Tennessee Valley Authority's board, which for months has not had enough members to take many actions because Trump fired some of former President Joe Biden's picks. TVA is the nation's largest public utility and provides power to more than 10 million people across seven southern states. The White House said Trump's nominees for the federal utility are Tennesseans Lee Beaman, Mitch Graves and Jeff Hagood; and Randall Jones of Alabama. The selections follow Trump's firing of three Biden-nominated board members since late March. The board normally has nine members and requires five to make a quorum. It currently has three. Trump's picks would not be seated until the U.S. Senate confirms them. Without a quorum, TVA's board can take actions needed for ongoing operations but cannot jump into new areas of activity, start new programs or change the utility's existing direction. Beaman is a businessman who sold his Nashville-area fleet of car dealerships. He is also a prominent Republican political fundraiser. Graves is the CEO of West Cancer Center & Research Institute in Germantown, Tennessee, and he sits on the board of Memphis Light, Gas and Water. Hagood is a Knoxville attorney and sits on the Knoxville Sports Authority Board. He was helping fundraising efforts for Knox County Mayor Glenn Jacobs, the former WWE wrestler who had been flirting with a run for governor. Jones is an insurance agent and sits on the Jacksonville State University board, the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame board and the city of Guntersville Electric Board. In a March 20 guest column, Tennessee's two Republican U.S. senators urged TVA officials to opt for 'an interim CEO trusted by the president' before hiring someone long-term. They wrote that studies and hurdles under the TVA board were bogging down a project that seeks to build a small modular nuclear reactor. Monday Mornings The latest local business news and a lookahead to the coming week. Then, Trump fired board member Michelle Moore on March 27. On March 31, the five remaining board members picked TVA's executive vice president and chief operating officer Don Moul to become the new CEO. Moul has since called for reevaluating the lifespan of TVA's fleet of coal plants. The utility has been planning to retire the last of them by 2035. But Trump has signed executive orders aimed at boosting the coal industry. On April 1, Trump fired board member Joe Ritch, leaving the board without a quorum. Months later, he fired Beth Geer from the board on June 10. This weekend, a guest column by Tennessee Republican Gov. Bill Lee called for a 'a new board and a clear, aggressive mission' to further Trump's goal of quadrupling domestic production of nuclear power within the next 25 years. Trump signed executive orders in May to speed up the development. Blackburn and Hagerty called for the new nominees' quick confirmation in the Senate.
