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Tennessee Senate passes bill limiting legal liability of pesticide makers | Tennessee

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www.thecentersquare.com – By Kim Jarrett | The Center Square – (The Center Square – ) 2025-04-03 14:12:00

(The Center Square) – The Tennessee Senate passed a bill that would limit the legal liability of pesticide makers as long as the labels meet federal standards.

Democrats said they were concerned that Senate Bill 527 would prevent consumers from suing chemical companies.

“It’s just amazing to me that we are taking away the rights of Tennesseans to defend themselves against harmful chemicals,” said Sen. Heidi Campbell, R-Nashville.

“The bill does not prevent anyone from suing,” said Sen. John Stevens, R-Huntingdon. “It does limit the liability in the event that there is a claim related to the label.”

Farmers call the products “crop protection.” Smith County farmer George McDonald told the Tennessee Senate Judiciary Committee in March that farmers are trained to use the products.

“If we keep chipping away at these tools that we have in our toolbox, we will not be able to use those tools and if we do not have these pesticides, taking them away from farmers will be like taking away tractors from farmers,” McDonald told the committee.

Passage was 21-7. The House version of the bill is on the calendar for next week’s meeting of the House Judiciary Committee.

A similar bill passed both chambers in Georgia and is now on Gov. Brian Kemp’s desk.

Bayer, who makes the popular weed killer Roundup, told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution that it is working to pass the bill in statehouses.

“Since litigation against glyphosate began, Bayer has paid out roughly $10 billion from an expensed & provisioned total of $16 billion to address these cases – funds that could be invested in R&D and used toward creating new technology for farmers, consumers and patients,” the company told the newspaper.

A Georgia jury awarded a man $2.1 billion in a lawsuit against Bayer. The man said the product caused his cancer.

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News from the South - Tennessee News Feed

How common is it to get Lyme disease in Tennessee? Justin Timberlake announces ‘debilitating’ diagnosis 

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www.wkrn.com – Kendall Ashman – 2025-08-01 17:41:00

SUMMARY: Lyme disease, often called the silent epidemic, gained attention after Tennessee native Justin Timberlake revealed his “debilitating” diagnosis following his two-year tour. Dr. Donald Dumford from Cleveland Clinic explained that Lyme disease is transmitted by ticks attached for 2-3 days and initially causes fever, mild joint pain, muscle aches, and a target-shaped skin lesion. Early treatment with antibiotics usually leads to recovery, but untreated cases can become chronic with symptoms like nerve pain and fatigue, as Timberlake experienced. Tennessee saw 39 cases in 2023, up 18% from 2022, while national cases rose 43% to 89,470. Most tick bites do not cause Lyme disease.

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Volunteers repair damaged parts of Appalachian Trail by hand almost a year after Helene

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wpln.org – Tony Gonzalez – 2025-08-01 04:47:00

SUMMARY: In Unicoi County, Tennessee, volunteers and Appalachian Trail Conservancy staff continue restoring the Appalachian Trail nearly a year after Hurricane Helene caused extensive damage. The storm uprooted large trees and left deep holes, making trail repair labor-intensive and reliant on hand tools due to rugged terrain. More than 430 miles of trail were initially closed, now reduced to five miles with detours around two damaged sections. Restoration aims to improve trail resilience with sustainable features like water bars. Volunteer efforts remain vital, supported by federal agencies, though recent interest has waned. International volunteers, inspired by past disasters, also contribute to the effort.

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Medical practice embracing parent choice

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www.youtube.com – WKRN News 2 – 2025-07-31 23:24:12

SUMMARY: Hopewell Family Care Integrative Medicine in Hermitage embraces parent choice, including vaccine decisions, welcoming all patients regardless of vaccination status. Co-owner Jamie Aoyo, a family nurse practitioner, emphasizes personalized, holistic care combining root cause medicine with conventional treatments. The practice educates families using official CDC and manufacturer vaccine information, respecting diverse vaccine schedules influenced by genetics or family history. Although vaccine skepticism has increased post-pandemic, Tennessee’s full vaccination rates have only slightly declined. Hopewell focuses on building trust through education rather than coercion and provides treatment protocols for vaccine-preventable illnesses like whooping cough, emphasizing prompt testing to control outbreaks.

Some parents are opting out of vaccinating their children.

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