FROM THE RADIO NEWS DEPARTMENT

Tennessee labor officials have begun enforcing new unemployment requirements passed by the Legislature. The longer a person is jobless, the less salary he or she can refuse and still keep unemployment benefits. After 13 weeks, for example, a person offered a job at 75 percent of previous salary could lose benefits for not accepting it. After 38 weeks without a job, people looking for one could be compelled to accept 65 percent of their previous pay or lose benefits.

Work On The Scott County Virginia Courthouse Is Getting Closer To Completion. Two Construction Crews Are Expected To Complete Renovation Work On The Nearly 200 Year Old Building Within The Next Couple Of Months. County Administrator Kathie Noe Said The 194-Thousand Project Has Not Hit Any Major Delays Or Setbacks.

This Week Has Been Proclaimed Fire Prevention Week Across The U.S. In 2010, U.S. Fire Departments Responded To Over 369-Thousand Home Structure Fires. Over 13-Thousand Residents Were Injured And Over 26-Hundred People Died. Laurie Ratliff, An Assistant Fire Marshal With The City Of Johnson City, Recommends Families Make A Map Of Their Home, Choose A Meeting Place Outside In Front Of Your Home In Case Of A Fire, And Write Down The Emergency Telephone Numbers For The Fire Department On Their Escape Plan. Ratliff Also Recommends Having The Family Practice The Escape Plan At Least Twice A Year.

Sullivan County Mayor Steve Godsey Has Indicated He Has No Plans To Make Any Immediate Changes To Appoint A Full-Time Accounts And Budgets Director. Gayvern Moore Was Appointed Interim Director Several Months Ago. The Appointment Was Confirmed By County Leaders In Accordance With Law. Some Commissioners Have Since Questioned When A Full-Time Appointment Would Be Made. Godsey Has Said He’s Holding Off In Part, To Save Money. He Said He’s Discussed The Matter With The State’s Comptroller’s Office And They’re Ok With What Is Being Done At The Present Time.

Some Good News For Most Motorists. Triple A Auto Club Says Gas Prices Should Continue To Decrease Toward The Rest Of This Year. Windy Van Curen With Triple A Auto Club Said Gas Prices Are Expected To Continue To Decrease Heading Into The End Of The Year. However, While Gas Prices Relief Has Made Its Way To The Country’s Midsection, Motorists Along The Northeast Coast And The West Coast Won’t See The Decrease In Gas Prices As Soon As The Rest Of The Country.

Funeral arrangements have been announced for a 27-year-old Virginia state trooper who was killed after he was hit by an SUV while on special assignment directing traffic for the State Fair of Virginia. Andrew Fox was assigned to Pulaski County. He was Tazewell County native and served on the town of Tazewell force. State police say Fox was run down late Friday on Route 30 in Hanover County. Visitation will be held on Wednesday at the Refreshing Center on Bob White Boulevard in Pulaski from one to four pm and six to nine pm. Funeral services will take place at two o’clock also at The Refreshing Center.

The U.S. Forest Service has completed its purchase of a large undeveloped tract of land in the Appalachians. The tract, known as Rocky Fork, is nearly 10,000 acres and lies in Unicoi and Greene counties in East Tennessee. Five million in funding from the USDA helped it finalized the purchase of 1,200 acres – the last section that was privately owned. Preserving as much of Rocky Fork as possible became a priority of the U.S. Forest Service when it acquired the first parcel of it in 2008 as the land went up for sale. In all, the Forest Service has spent $40 million on 7,667 acres. The nonprofit Conservation Fund owns another 2,000 acres.

The Boyfriend Charged In The Death Of A Woman Whose Body Was Found In A Carter County Lake Last Week Has Been Arraigned In Washington County General Sessions Court. 31 Year Old Steven Bennett Is Charged With Second Degree Murder And Abuse Of A Corpse. Rescue Personnel Located Vonda Donaldson’s Body Near Butler Bridge In Watauga Lake. Authorities Are Awaiting An Autopsy. According To A Warrant, Bennett Allegedly Told His Mother He Chocked Vonda And Beat Her After They Got Into A Verbal Altercation And Planned To Dump Her Body. Bond For Bennett Was Set At 100-Thousand Dollars. He Has A Preliminary Hearing Set For October 11th.