AGP Executive Report

Tech & Manufacturing: LG Electronics is building a Seoul “Data Factory” to train and improve robots using NVIDIA tech, with hundreds of robots expected by year-end and full operations targeted for late 2026. Tourism & Local Economy: A report on visitor spending highlights how travel dollars translate into state and local tax revenue, with growth noted across many counties. Tennessee Cost of Living: A SmartAsset analysis says a single adult in Tennessee needs nearly $90,000 a year to live comfortably, while a family of four needs close to $200,000. Health Care Safety: Tennessee regulators are investigating a Nashville hospital incident where an anesthetic was reportedly swapped during an epidural procedure, leaving at least one patient permanently paralyzed. Sports Business: Tennessee Athletics names Axle Logistics as its first official jersey patch partner under a five-year deal. Jobs & Hiring: The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation is seeking intelligence analysts for its Criminal Intelligence Unit in Nashville. Arts & Culture: The Frist Art Museum announced its 2027 exhibition schedule, including major shows in multiple galleries.

Public Safety: Covington police ran alcohol compliance checks at 19 businesses; 18 refused underage sales, but TKR Novelty sold to a 19-year-old and the cashier was cited. Local Roads: Greene County commissioners voted down a plan to cut the speed limit on Snapps Ferry Road from 55 to 45 mph after concerns about speeding and wreck history. Health & Addiction: Vanderbilt Health is enrolling in a study testing whether GLP-1 drug tirzepatide, alongside buprenorphine, can help prevent relapse for opioid use disorder—highlighting Tennessee’s overdose burden. Business & Jobs: Bridgetown Natural Foods is expanding in Wilson County, adding 100 more positions with a hiring event set for Aug. 26. Healthcare Leadership: St. Jude named Charles W.M. Roberts as its next president and CEO, starting Jan. 1, 2027. Tech & Law: A federal court approved a $700 million Google antitrust settlement tied to Android app distribution and in-app payments. Politics Beyond TN: Florida’s GOP and Democratic primaries set up a fall race for governor after Byron Donalds won the GOP nod.

Meta Trial Over Youth Addiction: A coalition of 29 states is set to begin a major federal trial accusing Meta of designing addictive Instagram/Facebook features for kids and improperly harvesting children’s data, with potential damages cited as high as $200B. Tennessee Cost of Living: A new SmartAsset study says a single Tennessean needs about $89,898 a year (before taxes) to live comfortably in 2026, ranking the state mid-pack but still far above many local wages. Local Business & Jobs: CMC Railroad announced an $87.9M credit facility with Bank of Texas to expand rail infrastructure at Gulf Inland Logistics Park, including plans for about 1,100 more railcar storage spots. Tech & Privacy Backlash: A report highlights growing public anger over license-plate camera surveillance, including alleged vandalism in East Tennessee. Higher Ed Leadership: Vanderbilt provost C. Cybele Raver has been named next president of the University of Michigan, pending a September vote. Sports & Entertainment: Journey’s farewell tour adds Nashville dates, while Memphis Depay’s Corinthians contract is extended through mid-2028. Public Housing Snapshot: HUD data shows Lebanon’s public housing units held steady in 2025, with similar “no change” reporting across several Missouri cities.

Meta Trial in Oakland: A coalition of 29 state attorneys general is set to begin a landmark case accusing Meta of designing Facebook and Instagram to hook kids, with potential penalties that Meta says could reach $1.4 trillion. Local Business & Growth: Putnam County commissioners approved a plan to potentially sell or lease 2.9 acres near the Expo Center for a hotel, aiming for jobs and a bigger tax base. Public Works Oversight: Campbell County created a three-person sanitation board, shifting oversight away from the mayor’s office. Workforce & Tech Demand: A new report argues Tennessee Valley Authority pumped-storage hydropower could help power rising electricity needs tied to AI and advanced manufacturing. Health & Safety: Murfreesboro police charged two people after an alleged illegal massage operation, citing missing state licenses. Corporate Leadership: Kaiser Aluminum announced a CEO transition, with Fred Stephan set to take over in November. Sports & Community: UT Knoxville opened Torchbearer Hall, adding new campus housing and student space. Local Culture: Belmont Grill in East Memphis is closing after 42 years.

College Basketball Eligibility Fight: CBS Sports’ “Candid Coaches” looks at the NCAA’s new five-in-five eligibility rule and the surge of court injunctions that have stalled it. Politics: A Fox News analyst says Trump’s influence is fading as GOP primaries go sideways, including Tennessee’s Andy Ogles losing after Trump’s own push. Nashville Power Reliability: Mayor Freddie O’Connell’s Winter Storm Response Commission released an interim report on the deadly January ice storm, citing “shortfalls” and setting up reforms before a final report due Feb. 23, 2027. Local Tech & Energy: Middle Tennessee Electric, MTSU and Qubit Engineering are teaming up to speed up advanced analytics for electric distribution systems. Housing Costs: A new report says Tennessee has the worst property tax hikes in the nation, with some local increases topping 60%+ in recent years. Memphis Economy & Housing: Redfin reports the U.S. housing market is shifting further toward buyers as homebuyers drop to a record low—good news for negotiators, tough for sellers. Business Growth: Potbelly expands with new Knoxville (TN) franchise plans. Sports: Scottie Scheffler’s Memphis win at the FedEx St. Jude Championship puts him on track for another PGA Tour money title. Entertainment: Hayden Panettiere dies at 36; tributes pour in.

Sports (Memphis): Scottie Scheffler roared back at the FedEx St. Jude Championship, turning a two-shot lead into an eight-stroke runaway with a 4-under 66 at TPC Southwind, the biggest margin in 68 years, and clinching major FedEx Cup bonus money. Sports (Playoff bubble): Jordan Spieth narrowly missed advancing in the PGA Tour postseason, finishing 52nd after needing just a bit more down the stretch. Local Justice: A Tennessee public defender urged voters to reject a proposed state constitutional amendment that would remove bail in certain serious cases, arguing it restricts liberty. Business/Energy (TVA): NuScale CEO says a potential TVA deal could reach 6 to 8 gigawatts of new nuclear capacity, via a partner that would finance and operate plants while TVA buys power. Public Safety/Health: Tennessee officials warned about hammerhead worms as heat drives them into more homes, and a Jackson heatwave report highlighted residents’ hydration and cooling strategies. Crime/Policy: FBI data show violent crime fell sharply in 2025, with murder rates at the lowest level in decades. Entertainment: Hayden Panettiere, known for “Heroes” and “Nashville,” died at 36, with her representative confirming the news.

FedEx St. Jude Championship (Memphis): Scottie Scheffler heads into Sunday’s final round with a two-stroke lead at TPC Southwind, with Sam Burns and Sungjae Im close behind as the FedEx Cup chase tightens. Local Sports Spotlight: Nashville SC beat Inter Miami 4-1, and Lionel Messi missed his third straight penalty kick in the process. Tennessee Entertainment & Culture: Dolly Parton, 80, canceled a Dollywood appearance at the last minute, citing dizziness and dehydration after a doctor told her not to travel. Tech & Law (AI harms): A Wyoming woman joined a federal lawsuit alleging Elon Musk’s Grok helped turn a childhood photo into thousands of child sexual abuse images. Education & AI: Some school officials say they’re overwhelmed by the rush of AI tools as districts weigh what’s safe and worth the cost. Public Safety Tech: Memphis-area license plate reader use is in focus as some cities shift away from Flock while others keep or expand camera contracts. Business/Finance: General Motors backed out of a Samsung SDI battery venture in Indiana while restarting production at another joint venture site in Ohio.

Titans Injury Update: Tennessee lost starting safety Edrees Farooq for the season after a dislocated kneecap turned into a torn patellar tendon, adding to a growing secondary crunch. High School Sports: The TSSAA Board of Control meets Aug. 17 to discuss reclassification and other format changes, using enrollment data to reshuffle football classes and districts. Local Education & Workforce: TCAT-McMinnville highlighted its new Coffee County campus at a chamber luncheon, detailing training programs aimed at local industry needs. Community Event: The UT Arboretum’s 11th Butterfly Festival returns Aug. 29 with insect zoo exhibits, viewing tents, speakers, kids’ activities, and pollinator plants. State Safety Warning: Tennessee officials warn residents not to touch hammerhead worms with bare hands, saying they can irritate skin and multiply if cut. Sports Spotlight: Memphis-raised Cardinals prospect Joshua Báez made MLB history by homering in each of his first three at-bats after being called up from Triple-A Memphis. Business & Tech: GM backed out of a Samsung SDI battery venture in Indiana while restarting production at another LG-Samsung-linked effort in Ohio, signaling EV battery plans are being reshaped.

Retiree Migration: Florida’s net senior gain collapsed in 2025, and “halfbacks” are heading “halfway back” north—driven by heat, overdevelopment, and rising insurance/HOA costs—while states like South Carolina, North Carolina, and Tennessee see more inbound retirees. Medicare Access: A new Medicare model, WISeR, is being tested in six states to use AI for prior authorization reviews, raising alarms that it could delay or deny care. Public Safety & Costs: A Nashville Broadway crash involving an uninsured driver highlights how Tennessee’s high uninsured rate and liability limits can leave families facing far bigger losses than required coverage. Scam Watch: BBB Scam Tracker data puts Memphis and Nashville at the top in Tennessee for July scam reports, with online purchase scams driving the biggest losses. Local Business/Community: Henagar City Council approved paving bids for two road segments, while a new Tennessee winery listing spotlights “Napa-style” luxury in Butler, TN. Tech & Industry: LG and Nvidia are teaming up on “physical AI,” including a next-gen humanoid robot and an AI factory plan that could connect to Tennessee manufacturing.

Local Education Accountability: Two former Metro Nashville Public Schools teachers allege administrators pressured them to change failing grades, with one suspended after refusing to “cook the books.” Local Governance & Growth: Memphis City Council is set to consider a temporary moratorium on new data center construction amid environmental and community concerns. Courts & Local Control: Tennessee Supreme Court has scheduled a June 2027 trial in the Chattanooga Airport board control fight, with a Sept. 28 hearing on temporary relief. Health Coverage for Disabled Workers: A new report highlights how Medicaid income caps can force disabled people to lose home care that makes work possible. Consumer & Safety: A Memphis investigation shows how scammers use AI-enabled romance and social media to target victims for crypto and money scams. Sports & Tennessee Ties: The Lakers’ record $12.5B sale puts Memphis Grizzlies ownership in the spotlight, while Dolly Parton cancels a Dollywood appearance after a doctor orders her not to travel.

AI in Schools: A new report says districts are overwhelmed by the rush of AI tools for classrooms, with billions at stake and guidance still uneven. Nashville Transit Push: Choose How You Move announced a $100 million capital package to improve safety, modernize traffic signals, expand transit, and advance Nolensville Pike and Gallatin Pike corridors. Housing Market Shift: Redfin reports homebuyers are leaving the U.S. market at a record pace, giving remaining buyers more leverage as supply outpaces demand—Nashville is flagged as a top buyer’s market. Memphis AI Data Center Fight: Justin Pearson won Tennessee’s Democratic primary for the redrawn 9th District, centering his campaign on opposing major AI data-center expansion in the Memphis area. Maternal Health Tool: Hospitals are expanding use of postpartum “I Gave Birth” wristbands aimed at reducing maternal deaths and complications. Local Business & Jobs: Orgill’s print operation is heading to Expo to explore new equipment and in-plant upgrades. Scam Tracker Watch: BBB data shows Memphis and Nashville remain top Tennessee cities for reported scams.

Federal Policy: The Trump administration says federal funding for gender-transition procedures for minors will stop immediately, reversing a prior rule and following Tennessee’s ban on such care for under-18s. Local Courts: A three-judge panel held an initial session in the Chattanooga Airport management dispute, setting a Sept. 28 date for key motions tied to a new state-appointed board. Business & Jobs: Prysmian announced a $100 million Jackson expansion that adds 100 jobs, while LIS Technologies bought an Oak Ridge facility for $6.2 million to expand its nuclear fuel-cycle and isotope work. Public Safety & Justice: A Tennessee man was federally indicted for a politically motivated arson in Florida, part of a broader federal push on political violence. Community & Culture: Rock City says its proposed gondola will avoid “clear cutting,” with an environmental assessment and six community open houses planned. Sports & Entertainment: Nissan named Ashley Gatlin as chief customer satisfaction officer for U.S. and Canada; and Memphis-area music economy concerns surfaced as “Blue Dot Fever” leaves venues with empty seats.

Nashville Business Pressure: Country star John Rich says soaring property appraisals and tax hikes could force Lower Broadway bars to “turn out the lights,” warning the city’s live-music economy is getting squeezed. Public Safety Tech: Flock Safety is rolling out new privacy safeguards for its license plate readers, including cutting data retention from 30 days to seven and adding more control for local law enforcement. AI Infrastructure & Jobs: Anthropic says it’s spending $50 billion on dedicated U.S. data centers, aiming to speed frontier AI progress and creating hundreds of permanent and thousands of construction jobs. Education Access: Volunteer State Virtual Academy is opening enrollment for the 2026-27 school year, offering tuition-free online K-12 with live instruction and Tennessee-aligned curriculum. Social Security: New estimates put the 2027 COLA around 3.6%, based on slower July inflation but still higher than 2026’s increase. Sports Business: The FedEx Cup playoffs kick off at the St. Jude Championship in Memphis, with a $10 million winner’s prize and a $355,000 minimum payout for Tour Championship qualifiers. Legal/Crime: A Tennessee man was indicted in Florida for allegedly arson tied to the historic Exchange Bank in downtown Tallahassee.

FedEx & Memphis Branding: FedEx unveiled a sweeping mural on Plough Boulevard celebrating founder Frederick W. Smith as the airport’s new name takes effect, tying local pride to the company’s global logistics story. Sports Business: The Los Angeles Lakers are set to be sold again—this time to Josh Kushner and Bob Iger—in a record $12.5B deal, with the price raising fresh questions about NBA franchise values. Local Education: Maryville School Board approved a $171,600 iPad purchase for kindergarteners, replacing older devices on a four-year rotation. City Planning: Alcoa kicked off work on a parks and recreation master plan, starting with assessments for schools and parks and a five-year facilities roadmap. Consumer Finance: Tennessee’s commerce and insurance agency shared tips ahead of National Financial Awareness Day, urging budgeting and safer investing habits. Public Safety & Justice: A former Oak Ridge National Laboratory executive was sentenced to nearly 20 years for child sexual exploitation, while federal prosecutors also moved on a major sham-marriage immigration fraud case. Community Needs: Chattanooga Area Food Bank reported rising food insecurity, pointing to SNAP changes and higher rates since 2019. Tennessee Economy Watch: ThinkTennessee warned lottery scholarship funding faces long-term pressure as revenue declines and scholarship costs rise.

Minnesota Politics: Mike Lindell refused to concede after losing the GOP gubernatorial primary to Lisa Demuth, dismissing the AP’s call while votes were still being counted. Regional Politics Takeaways: Tuesday’s primaries also featured a Wisconsin Democratic upset (David Crowley beating Francesca Hong) and mixed results for progressives across Minnesota, Wisconsin, Connecticut and South Carolina. Tennessee Courts: Day two of the Christa Pike death-penalty hearing opened in Knoxville, with prosecutors and testimony revisiting the 1996 killing of Colleen Slemmer. Sports & Health: Former NFL QB Matt Hasselbeck is pushing living diagnosis of CTE after spending time at Boston University for brain scans and tests. Memphis Business: Oakbridge Insurance is partnering with Valentine Insurance in Memphis to expand integrated risk management and advisory services. Tennessee Economy/Manufacturing: Prysmian announced $1B+ in new fiber and optical cable capacity across North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee, targeting 600 U.S. manufacturing jobs. Local Health Access: A Lebanon, Tenn., rehab center says it will offer on-site hemodialysis through Dialyze Direct to reduce patient travel burdens. Public Safety/Crime: The TBI posted multiple job openings, including a Madison County administrative assistant role and a Nashville Medicaid fraud auditor position.

Memphis & Sports: Memphis striker Memphis Depay says Corinthians “are not honouring an agreement” after the Brazilian club declined to renew his expiring contract, escalating a dispute over pay and negotiations. Nashville & Music: Taylor Swift is set to become the youngest inductee in the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame, with Lyle Lovett and others also named for this year’s ceremony. Nashville & Safety: The Islamic Center of Nashville is boosting security after a box truck with anti-Muslim messages targeted the mosque, part of wider worries about Islamophobic rhetoric. Health: Vanderbilt Health is enrolling a Phase 3 trial for a vaccine aimed at preventing C. diff, a major infection risk for older adults. Education: Tennessee’s TN Direct Admissions expands for the Class of 2027, giving seniors more time to explore college options through automatic offers. Business & Power: Middle Tennessee Electric, MTSU and Qubit Engineering are teaming up to speed up distribution grid analytics—moving new tools from lab to field faster. Memphis & Community: Memphis remembers “Prince Mongo,” a local political oddball and character, who died at 89. Politics & Policy: A federal appeals court struck down Biden-era stove and oven efficiency rules, with Tennessee among the states that sued. Public Safety: A Nashville man launched a petition to close Broadway to vehicles after a deadly pedestrian crash. Entertainment Industry: Paramount CEO David Ellison threatens to move Paramount’s operations out of California if antitrust settlement talks don’t start by Oct. 1.