Business

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The state Labor and Workforce Development Department says more than 30,000 Tennesseans receiving federal unemployment benefits will see their payments reduced because of automatic federal budget cuts that took effect this month.

The department said in a news release issued Thursday that people will start being notified by mail detailing the reduction in their benefits no later than March 22.

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.