Courts across parts of Tennessee closed and adjusted operations this week because of severe winter weather, prompting deadline extensions and emergency measures, while federal disaster assistance was approved statewide. In Davidson County, the Metropolitan Historic Courthouse and the Justice A.A. Birch Courthouse were closed Monday and Tuesday, and all deadlines for matters pending in the 20th Judicial District have been extended by two days due to many practitioners and litigants lacking power or internet access. It is discretionary for each judge to determine how this impacts their hearing and other court schedules. According to the Daily Memphian, in Shelby County, circuit, general sessions, criminal, probate and civil courts, including the clerk’s office, were closed today, with the clerk’s 24-hour bail office remaining open. Juvenile Court canceled most dockets and held select hearings virtually. Staff worked remotely, and hearings were reset to next available docket date if families could not attend virtually. Additionally, President Donald Trump approved an emergency declaration on Saturday authorizing the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to provide disaster assistance in all 95 Tennessee counties, including 75% federally funded emergency protective measures, with Mary Hernandez Marrero named federal coordinating officer for the response.

Two Cocke County businesses received state grants Thursday to help retain and retrain employees after Hurricane Helene, WSMV reports. State and local officials announced the awards for Eastern Plating and American Appliance Products, with each company receiving more than $2 million from the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development. Both businesses were damaged by the hurricane and are either in the early stages of reopening or have not yet reopened. The plants, which are located next to each other, were flooded during the storm. “Of all the things we get to do across the state and our agency, working in rural Tennessee is what we see as the most impactful,” said Stuart McWhorter, Tennessee deputy governor and commissioner of economic and community development.

Legal Services Corporation's (LSC) Rural Justice Task Force has released a comprehensive report with recommendations to strengthen legal access in rural communities. The task force's goal is to better serve the millions of rural Americans who face unique challenges — such as limited transportation, scarce providers and geographic isolation — when seeking legal help. LSC has also expanded Heartland Disaster Help to better support Americans in areas vulnerable to natural disasters. Simply enter an address and learn about the disasters most common to that area, find recovery assistance resources and explore ways to prepare and protect homes, families and communities.

Tennesseans who took advantage of the extra time provided by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to file their 2024 tax returns are now running out of time, the Nashville Banner reports. The deadline to file is 11:59 p.m. on Nov. 3. On April 14, the IRS offered relief to any area designated by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), which included all 95 Tennessee counties after storms on April 2 produced widespread tornadoes and flooding. The extension applies to individual tax returns normally due on April 15, quarterly estimated tax payments normally due in April, June and September, and more. Those who suffered uninsured or unreimbursed losses also have the option to claim the losses on their 2024 or 2025 tax returns.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has closed disaster assistance applications for residents affected by severe storms and flooding in April, the Tennessee Lookout reports. Between June 19 and Aug. 19, FEMA approved about $7.2 million in aid to 975 individuals, including $4.3 million for housing assistance and $2.9 million for other needs. Residents of Cheatham, Davidson, Dickson, Dyer, Hardeman, McNairy, Montgomery, Obion and Wilson counties were eligible to apply for help covering uninsured losses. While the initial application period has ended, FEMA will accept late applications for up to 60 days with an explanation for the delay. Individuals can apply at DisasterAssistance.gov, through FEMA’s mobile app or by calling 800-621-3362.

Flash flood warnings were in effect across Tennessee yesterday after deadly floodwaters trapped cars near Chattanooga. During the storms that began on Tuesday, a mother, father and child in Chattanooga were killed when a tree fell on the car they were in during the rain and flooding. According to the Oak Ridger, historic floods have swept through the eastern part of the state. The Associated Press also has reporting on the flood's impacts.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has approved 728 applications for a total of nearly $5.2 million in disaster assistance for Tennesseans affected by severe storms and flooding in April. This includes $2.8 million in housing assistance and $2.3 million in assistance for other needs, according to Tennessee Lookout. Individuals have until Aug. 19 to apply. The agency also recently announced that is preparing to close three of its Disaster Recovery Centers, which help disaster victims with aid applications and provide connections to other resources. Centers in Dyer, McNairy and Montgomery counties will close at 6 p.m. on Aug. 1. Centers in Hardeman and Obion counties will remain open. More information about available resources can be found on FEMA’s website.

Managers of Impact Plastics, the plant in Erwin where six employees were swept away and died in Hurricane Helene floodwaters, are not legally responsible for those deaths, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) announced last week. The decision followed an investigation that, according to the bureau, found no criminal wrongdoing. No charges will be filed in the case. According to Knox News, the investigation showed Impact Plastics owner Gerald O’Connor dismissed employees in September with enough time and when there were “available paths of evacuation.” The findings mirror those of the Tennessee Occupational Safety and Health Administration, but contradict what many employees told news outlets after the floods — that managers would not allow them to leave until it was too late. The company has denied it forced employees to stay as floodwaters rose. One family has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the company.

A group of 20 states filed suit Wednesday seeking to block the Trump administration from terminating a grant program that funds infrastructure upgrades to protect against natural disasters. According to Reuters, the suit claims the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) lacks authority to cancel the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities program since it has been approved and funded by Congress. The program, created in 2018 as an upgrade of existing grant programs, covers up to 75% of the costs of infrastructure projects — or 90% in rural areas — meant to protect communities from natural disasters. The funding has been used for evacuation shelters, flood walls and improvements to roads and bridges, among other projects. When FEMA announced termination of the program in April, it said it had become wasteful and ineffective. A bipartisan group of lawmakers in May urged FEMA to restore the funds and work with Congress to make the program more efficient.

Three more Tennessee counties are now authorized to receive public assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) as they recover from severe storms in April. FEMA announced Monday that Carroll, Houston and Wayne counties are now eligible for public assistance funding, which helps reimburse some local government costs for debris removal and repairs to public infrastructure or facilities. They join 19 other counties that previously were announced. Tennessee Lookout reports the news. The paper also notes that FEMA has approved $3.4 million in individual assistance for the storms.