SUMMARY: A recent poll by The Beacon Center shows that 58% of Tennessee Democrats and 56% of Republicans back candidates supporting school choice. However, 21% of Democrats and 14% of Republicans oppose it. State lawmakers did not pass a bill for an educational savings account program that aimed to provide 20,000 accounts at $7,075 annually, estimated to cost $100,000 in the first year and $300,000 afterward. A January poll indicated 68% support for this plan. School choice is seen as vital by many parents seeking better educational opportunities for their children, with ongoing pilot programs in Shelby, Davidson, and Hamilton counties offering $9,800.

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SUMMARY: Disaster SNAP benefits are now available for individuals affected by Hurricane Helen in Hamlin, Greene, Hawkins, Carter, Johnson, Unicoi, and Washington counties. To qualify, applicants must meet income limits and have experienced damage to their home or business, loss of income, disaster-related expenses, or food loss due to the hurricane. However, recipients of Tennessee’s regular SNAP benefits are not eligible for these disaster benefits. Eligible individuals can apply for assistance until Friday.

The D-SNAP benefits are available to qualifying households that lived or worked in Carter, Cocke, Greene, Hamblen, Johnson, Unicoi and Washington counties.

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SUMMARY: A former Crime Stoppers officer, Erica Hutcherson, is facing charges for misappropriating $118,000 through fraudulent tips. Employed with the Memphis Police since 2016, Hutcherson manipulated a database to collect rewards meant for tips, allowing a co-conspirator, identified as KB, to pose as a tipster and receive payments. Federal documents reveal two cases where tips led to arrests, but Hutcherson falsely updated records to facilitate payouts for herself and KB. The scheme unraveled when FBI agents intervened during a cash pickup. Hutcherson pled guilty to conspiracy to commit theft and is now being held accountable for her actions.

A former Memphis Police officer was sentenced to half a year in prison for her part in a conspiracy to steal money designed to pay witnesses and stop crime. READ MORE: https://www.fox13memphis.com/news/former-mpd-officer-sentenced-to-prison-after-stealing-over-18k-from-crimestoppers-records-show/article_be5424e8-8d9d-11ef-beb3-7be4a188e3a0.html

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