FROM THE RADIO NEWS DEPARTMENT

Tennessee’s Unemployment For February Remained At 10.7 Percent, Unchanged From January. Labor And Workforce Commissioner James Neeley Said That The Unemployment Rate Has Held Steady For The Third Month In A Row As Significant Hiring Has Yet To Occur. The February Rate A Year Ago Was 9.6 Percent And The National Rate For February 2010 Was 9.7. According To The Business Survey, Jobs Increased In State Governmental Education Services By 3,100 And In Educational And Health Services By Another 3,000. But Employment Decreased By 1,800 Jobs In Mining And Construction And By 1,400 Jobs In Transportation And Warehousing.

A Greeneville Man Accused Of Breaking Into A Home And Shooting The Boyfriend Of His Former Girlfriend Has Waived His Case To A Hawkins County Grand Jury. 34 Year Old Brad Fortner Is Charged With Attempted First Degree Murder, Two Counts Of Felony Reckless Endangerment And Aggravated Burglary. He’s Accused Of Shooting 39 Year Old Brian Kester Five Times In The Chest Area. The Grand Jury Will Meet Again On April 26th.

The Cost Of This Winter’s Snow Removal And Road Work Has Had A Huge Impact In The Virginia Department Of Transportation’s Budget. Vdot Has Spent About 205 Million Dollars To Clear Snow From The State’s Highways This Year. And That Number Is Expected To Rise As More Bills Come In. Vdot Had Budgeted About 80 Million Dollars For Snow Removal This Year. Officials Said The Additional Money Will Come Out Of The Department’s 1.3 Billion Dollar Maintenance And Operating Budget.

Turn Those Red Light And Speed Cameras Off This Week! Well, It Apparently Isn’t Going To Happen But One Sullivan County Official Said He Doesn’t Want Race Fans To Have A Bad Experience During Their Stay. Commissioner Moe Brotherton Voiced His Request Earlier This Week To County Mayor Steve Godsey To Ask Kingsport And Bluff City To Temporarily Disable Their Traffic Enforcement Cameras. Well, So Far The Film Is Still Running And The Tickets Are Still Being Sent Out.

Eastman Chemical Company, Headquartered In Kingsport, Has Announced The Acquisition Of A Chicago Based Company. The Chemical Giant Entered Into A Definitive Agreement To Acquire Genovique Specialities Corporation. Terms Of The Transaction Have Not Been Disclosed. Eastman Spokeswoman Tracy Broadwater Says The Company Feels Good About This. The Acquisition Is Expected To Be Completed After Receipt Of Required Regulatory Approvals And Satisfaction Of Other Customary Closing Conditions. It Will Be Funded With Available Cash.

Brad Keselowski is sending a message to his rivals through the song he chose for his driver introduction at Bristol Motor Speedway. Keselowski has asked to be introduced before Sunday’s race to “Won’t Back Down” by Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers. It will be Keselowski’s first Sprint Cup Series race since he was intentionally wrecked at Atlanta two weeks ago by Carl Edwards as payback for an earlier accident. Keselowski has vowed not to change the aggressive driver style that has angered so many veterans. Bristol started a practice last summer of allowing the drivers to pick their introductory music.

A Bristol Virginia Man Accused Of Shooting A Rifle At Two Newspaper Carriers Is Behind Bars. 29 Year Old Charles Hagerman Is Charged With Possession Of A Firearm By A Convicted Felon And Maliciously Shooting At An Occupied Vehicle. The Carriers Were Driving Along Conducting Their Routine Rounds When Hagerman Allegedly Chased After Them And Then Open Fired. No One Was Injured. Hagerman’s Being Held Without Bond And Will Appear In Court March 23rd.

This Coming Weekend Of Racing At Bristol Motor Speedway Could Be The First Race In 56 Years That Is Not Sold Out. And That’s Also Affecting Those Looking For Somewhere To Stay While In The Area. For Example, The Days Inn On Volunteer Parkway Is The Closest Chain Hotel To The Speedway, And It Still Has Vacancies. In The Past, Hotels From Pigeon Forge To Roanoke Would Quickly Fill Up For The Races. Merchants And Other Businesses Are Hoping Things Will Pick Up As It Gets Closer To Race Time.

Local, State And Federal Authorities Continue To Investigate A Series Of Threatening Internet Postings And Emails Directed At Virginia Tech. The University, However, Says Investigators Do Not Believe The Messages Are Credible Threats. Tech President Charles Steger Sent A New Letter To The University Community. He Said Investigators Believe The Messages Are Coming From Italy And That The University Will Remain Open.

Hawkins County Authorities Have Arrested A Woman For Allegedly Using Her Car To Ram Another Vehicle, The Second Time Causing The Other Vehicle To Strike A Home. Judy Miller Is Accused Of Using Her Vehicle To Threaten To Kill People At The Residence On Little War Gap Road. Officers Said Miller Had Slurred Speech And Had A Strong Odor Of Alcohol On Her Breath. Miller’s Charged With Driving Under The Influence, Vandalism Over 500 Dollars, And Six Counts Of Felony Reckless Endangerment. A Court Date Has Not Been Set.