Business

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (WMOT)  --  Permits issued in Tennessee for single family housing construction surged to nearly 1500 units in January, but a mid-state economist says builders shouldn’t break out the champagne just yet.

According to Middle Tennessee State’s Business and Economic Research Center, 1491 single-family housing permits were issued statewide in January. That’s the highest number since September of 2008, but still well below the nearly 1800 permits issued in April of 2008.

MUFREESBORO, Tenn. (WMOT)  --  The University of Tennessee is out with a yearly economic forecast that state government uses to plan its budget and the outlook is mostly favorable.

The study, prepared by the UT Center for Business and Economic Research, predicts Tennessee’s economy will grow this year, but at an even slower pace than in 2012.

UT’s Matt Murray, one of the report’s authors, says that for the first time since the recession, Tennessee’s housing sector is growing again.

MTSU will sponsor a free six-session workshop series to help diabetics deal with their illness.

The next series of “Yes I Can” Diabetes Self-Management Workshops is slated for 9:00 a.m.-11:30 a.m. on Tuesdays from Feb. 19-March 26 at Third Baptist Church, 410 West McKnight Dr. in Murfreesboro.

Two additional workshop series will be scheduled later this spring and will be announced in the near future.

A sports nutritionist whose clients have included top athletes from baseball, basketball and other sports will share her expertise with the MTSU community.

Nancy Clark will discuss “Nutrition—The Missing Link” at 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 28, in the auditorium of MTSU’s Learning Resource Center. This event is free and open to the public.

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (WMOT)  --   Can you remember the last time you were in a record store?  Chances are good it’s been a while.

Music retailing has been decimated in recent years by the advent of audio streaming and music piracy. So it came as something of a surprise to learn that a new record store opened recently here in Middle Tennessee.

Grant Polston and his wife Sandy are co-owners of Little Shop of Records, located just off the square in downtown Murfreesboro.