The cheating scandal that has rocked the Memphis school system does not speak well for the quality or integrity of that public school system. Public schools needs the best teachers they can find. What they don’t need are teachers who needed to resort to cheating to get certified.

With a supermajority of Republicans in the House and Senate, Republican Gov. Bill Haslam seemed to have it made when he took office two years ago. Instead he sometimes has to act as traffic cop to save the state from foolish and overreaching legislation passed by members of his own party. Fortunately, he is prepared to do that.

Perhaps it’s naive to think that any government agency can be unbiased, its employees free of the prejudices and personal agendas that mark so many people. The Internal Revenue Service was thought or hoped by some to be one of those agencies. Not any more. As much as people profess to hate it, they now have reason to distrust it.

Sevier County is blessed with some wonderful, entertaining and classy festivals each year, but maybe none quite like Sevierville’s annual Bloomin’ Barbeque and Bluegrass. The event will be held Friday and Saturday this week and promises to be as fun as any of them.

It should be clear to everyone with or without school-age children that we have to do something to improve the quality and intensity of public education. This country, as great as it is, is falling behind other nations in comparative student test scores and benchmarks. That cannot be allowed to continue.

This is Arson Awareness Week nationally, a good time to focus on ingtentinally set fires that can cauise widespread damage and casualities. The U.S. Fire Administration has dedicated this year’s campaign to the theme of reducing residential arson.

Sometimes the best way to reach teenagers who seem to ignore the wisdom and experience of their elders is to show them exactly what could happen when they don’t do what’s right. That’s the theory behind today’s mock crash demonstration at Pigeon Forge High School.

Sevier County High School's culinary program has won wide recognition and praise for getting students involved in a what could become a career in the food business. Leading this effort is Sissy Ivy, the culinary arts instructor. That she is a teacher was never in her plan, but her students are grateful her life took that turn.

No matter what studies some television executive may point to, sensible people know that a steady diet of violence as portrayed on TV has an effect, especially on young people. When you note the number of hours a day children watch television, and the types of shows broadcast on networks and cable channels, it’s hard not to see a link between TV and societal misbehavior.

It’s called the “ag gag” bill for a reason. A bill that passed the Legislature and is on Gov. Bill Haslam’s desk would impose a dangerous and threatening assault on press freedom and the efforts of interested parties to uncover inhumane treatment of animals in this state. The governor simply must veto this bill.

Now here is a nice recognition for the state of Tennessee. The League of American Bicyclists has released its latest Bicycle Friendly States ranking. In the sixth annual report, Tennessee ranked second in the Southeast, while placing 17th nationally. Tennessee has improved its national ranking from 26th in 2012.

Arrowmont School of Arts & Crafts in downtown Gatlinburg is a local treasure, a world-renowned school that attracts students and patrons from across the country — and beyond. Its future in the current location is in doubt, since the owner of the land, Pi Beta Phi Fraternity for Women Inc., plans to sell the property, but until things are sorted out, Arrowmont plugs away and raises the money it needs to remain a top attraction.

Sevier County may never be known for its manufacturing and non-tourism jobs, so when a local company expands and adds positions, it is worth celebrating. Business service provider Quality Solutions Group announced Monday that it will be adding jobs and space and making a large capital investment.

Sevier County holds its fifth annual Day of Prayer on Thursday, an observance that is a part of the National Day of Prayer as proclaimed by the president. This is not a day of only Christian prayer. It is a day when people of all faiths can come together and seek God’s wisdom and guidance to help us through troubled times.

The grass is growing. That’s a sure sign of spring. And with growing grass come lawmowers dusted off and cranked up to trim those green lawns. Injuries from lawnmowers are among the most traumatic seen at the Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt, officials there say.

Billed as “The Parade You Never Got,” the recent Welcome Home from Vietnam event in Pigeon Forge was presented by its organizers as a kind of corrective celebration for Vietnam veterans, many of whom were poorly treated when they returned from war.

We hope you enjoy the weather art we run on our front page. Local schoolchildren contribute these cute little images, which look like pictures schoolchildren anywhere would draw.

Cancer. The very mention of the word invokes fear. All of us have been affected by this often fatal disease in one way or another. Almost all of us have lost a friend or family member to its devastating effects.

Earth Day is a holiday that pretty much everyone can get behind. It’s not affiliated with any particular religion, race, ethnic group or political party. It’s not even bound by national lines.

It should come as no surprise to anyone that at the federal level, people are appointed to positions based in large part on who they know and how much money they contributed to a candidate. We see that at the state and local levels as well.

The good ones, the ones who blazed the trails and set the standards, are the people we always must remember. They were there first, finding their way in an industry or enterprise that was still locating its footing.

It is good to see audiences responding to the new movie about the rookie season of Jackie Robinson. This is a figure in American history whose contributions to equality and fairness cannot be denied. He endured some of the most hateful and even dangerous situations possible, and he did it with unparalleled grace and dignity.

Sevier County residents like to live in woodland settings, especially in an area so filled with mountains. They can enjoy the beauty of the surroundings. However, they also realize they face the danger of wildfire.