This week's Dose of news: Tennessee's first vaping death and millions for poor working families goes unspent

The Tennessean

One man has died of a vaping-related illness in Tennessee. More than $732.7 million set aside for poor working families in the state has gone unspent. And six couples have created a "friends compound" outside of Nashville. *Insert "Friends" theme song here.* I'm Jessica Bliss, and I'll be there for you. This is your weekly Dose.

This week's dose of news

Catharine Candelario, an employee at Henley Vaporium, smokes an electronic cigarette Thursday in New York City. The practice is known as “vaping.”

As the vaping crisis grows, a Nashville death marks the first e-cigarette fatality in Tennessee

By now, you've heard the concern. A nationwide outbreak of vaping-related illnesses has sickened 1,299 people and killed 26 across the country. And numbers are still on the rise. This week, a vaping-related death in Nashville became the first e-cigarette fatality in Tennessee. At least 53 people in Tennessee — mostly adolescents and young adults — have exhibited symptoms of vaping-related illnesses, according to state Department of Health statistics.

What can be done? Well, Massachusetts has banned the sale of all vaping products. Meanwhile, in Nashville, Meharry Medical College has taken $7.5 million from Juul to study vaping — a move that has drawn criticism because of Juul's links to the tobacco industry. Meharry is "unapologetic," insisting the outbreak of vaping-linked illness shows research is needed.

Updates, quick hits and tidbits

Six couples create "friends compound" in Hendersonville: And now we're all wondering, "Why didn't we think of that?"
Halloween is here. And Ms. Cheap has savings so scary, you'll freak: Just for you, all the deals on costumes, candy, pumpkins and more. Looking for a fright? We've got that, too. Here's all the Halloween events around town.
Speaking of boos ... The Predators heard them loud and clear. So, they've taken the pedal tavern off the ice at Bridgestone Arena.
Not everything is getting the cold shoulder: After some questions about city finances, Nashville's cold-weather shelters will indeed be fully funded and operational this winter.
And, finally, do you need a new Instagram photo? Just stop by this old Baptist church downtown. And, no, it's not another set of angel wings.

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Numbers worth knowing

Tennessee receives millions in block grant funds for poor working families — much of it is going unused

Through its Families First program, Tennessee receives block grant funds to provide temporary cash assistance, transportation, child care assistance, job training and other support services to help low-income working families. But it's not being spent.

Here's a look at the numbers:

$190.9 million: Received each year for the state of Tennessee through the federal government's Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program.

Just $71.1 million: Of that money, or 37% of the annual block grant amount, was spent by the state last year according to the conservative think tank Beacon Center.

The remaining funds are placed in a reserve fund, which as of September had grown to $732.7 million.

19,119 families: Participated in the program in August and received an average of $243 in cash assistance that month, according to state data.

Employed participants in the program make an average of $927 per month.

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All the good feels

Calvin Bryant plays with his newborn daughter, Treasure, on Monday, Oct. 14, 2019. Bryant spent a decade in prison on a first-time, nonviolent drug offense before a deal with prosecutors set him free a year ago.

After a decade in prison for a low-level drug offense, Calvin Bryant is treasuring his freedom — and changing lives

Calvin Bryant had always been afraid to hold other people's babies. Yet, here he was holding his own. It had seemed impossible a year ago, when Bryant was sitting in a cell at Riverbend Maximum Security Institution. The former Hillsboro High School football standout had been sentenced to 17 years for selling party drugs to a police informant. It was his first offense — but he was hit with a punishment typically given to people convicted of second-degree murder or rape. After a decade, the DA fought for his freedom. Now, he has found love, started a family, got a job at a juvenile detention facility and dug into work at a nonprofit he founded called Positive Inner City Kids.

Quote of the week

"A lot of people want this job, so they think. But I'm the man that's built for this job. Every day, man, we grind. We grind. Don't question us."

— Vanderbilt head football coach Derek Mason in an emotional post-game interview after the Commodores upset win over Missouri.

Vanderbilt turned to a new starting quarterback to lead them in the 21-14 victory against the Tigers, and maybe that helped with the good vibes. He's a player truly focused on doing good off the field as well as on. Here's the story about Mo Hasan's mission to feed the homeless in Nashville. Just ICYMI.

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