GRIFFIN, Circuit Judge. Defendant Maurice Taylor pleaded guilty to two drug-trafficking crimes, and the district court sentenced him to 385 months’ imprisonment. In this appeal, Taylor contends that the district court erroneously found applicable three sentencing enhancements: maintaining a drug premises; being a leader/organizer; and using force, friendship, or affection to involve another in a conspiracy. We affirm.

The Defendant, Lance T. Sandifer, appeals the trial court’s summary dismissal of his motion to correct an illegal sentence pursuant to Tennessee Rule of Criminal Procedure 36.1. In his motion, the Defendant argued that his sentences were illegal because he was not granted a juvenile transfer hearing and that the criminal court, therefore, lacked subject matter jurisdiction over him. Following our review, we affirm.

Appellants, Amelia Vaughn and Gemelia Johnson appeal the March 3, 2023 order of the Shelby County Probate Court. Because the order appealed is not a final judgment, this Court lacks jurisdiction to consider the appeal. Tenn. R. App. P. 3(a). The appeal is dismissed.

This appeal concerns an order of dismissal entered by the Tennessee Claims Commission. Though Appellant raises a number of issues on appeal, this Court is unable to review any of the issues due to Appellant’s noncompliance with applicable appellate briefing requirements. Because all of Appellant’s issues on appeal have been waived due to his failure to comply with the appellate briefing requirements, we affirm the judgment of the Tennessee Claims Commission.

This appeal involves a contract for the removal of a tree. The trial court granted a motion to dismiss filed by the defendant tree company. We affirm and remand for further proceedings.

Legal Aid of East Tennessee, in partnership with Legal Aid of Middle Tennessee and the Cumberlands, the TBA Young Lawyers Division, the Tennessee Supreme Court's Justice for All Initiative and Belmont University College of Law, will hold a Virtual Debt Relief Clinic on Oct. 28 from 9-11 a.m. EDT. (This is a correction from previous announcements that shared an incorrect date.) Those in need of legal advice about debt relief should call 423-794-2496 to register. A link to join the Zoom clinic will be sent following registration. Attorneys who would like to volunteer for the clinic should email Kendra Cheek.

Homebuilders are pulling out all the stops to lure in buyers and close deals amidst surging interest rates and ongoing affordability challenges. According to the Department of Housing and Urban Development and U.S. Census Bureau data, housing starts increased 7% in September to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.36 million units. The National Association of Home Builders stated that 31% of homes available for sale in August were new construction, compared to a historical average in the 12% to 14% range. That said, the number of single-family homes under construction in September declined by 15% from a year ago. The most recent National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index found builders are using a range of incentives to lure buyers, the most prominent of which is to pay closing costs or fees, which 34% of respondents said in the October survey they were currently doing. Other popular incentives being used by builders include offering options or upgrades at no or reduced cost (32%), discounted home prices or reduced margins (31%), mortgage rate buydowns (29%) and absorbing financing points for buyers (21%). Read more from the Nashville Business Journal.

Tennessee Comptroller Jason Mumpower is pushing a plan to increase the frequency of county property reappraisals to more closely match market values and stop local governments from losing tax revenue, the Tennessee Lookout reports. Mumpower plans to introduce a bill in 2024 to speed up the reappraisal schedule (currently completed every four to six years) statewide after 38 counties lost $100-113 million last year in property tax collections. Davidson County Property Assessor Vivian Wilhoite and Rutherford County Property Assessor Rob Mitchell support the proposal; because of the lag time between appraisals, governments often have to discount property taxes by applying a sales ratio that deals with appraisals versus market values. Tennessee is one of only four states without a property tax cap, but state law dictates that counties are prohibited from having a tax revenue windfall from increases in property reappraisals.

Friends and family gathered Friday at the Nashville Historic Courthouse for a portrait unveiling of former Court of Appeals Judge Richard Dinkins. Chancellor Russell Perkins opened the court, while reflections of Dinkins’ life were shared by Nashville lawyers D. Billye Sanders and Margaret Behm and federal district court Chief Judge Waverly Crenshaw Jr. The portrait, painted by Michael Shane Neal, was unveiled by members of the Dinkins family. Chancellor I’Ashea Myles provided closing remarks. Dinkins died Oct. 1 at the age of 71. Before being named to the appellate court, he served as a Davidson County chancellor.

The 21st District Recovery Court is hosting its 13th Annual Community Luncheon on Oct. 30 at 11:30 a.m. CDT at the Williamson County Enrichment Center, 110 Everbright Ave. in Franklin. The luncheon serves as one of the court’s annual fundraisers. In addition to hearing from recent graduates, the court will honor Phil Newman with the Gayle Moyer Harris Award, which honors one of the court’s founders. Newman is a former board chair and was instrumental in developing several fundraisers for the organization. To attend, RSVP to Connie Martin. Donations in support of the recovery court program may be made online.