AGP Executive Report

CoolSprings Galleria Redevelopment: Franklin and Williamson County leaders joined Greystar and CBL Properties to break ground on a mixed-use overhaul that will add 361 upscale apartments, plus new retail and dining, as the mall’s JCPenney location closes this fall. Legal Fight in Williamson County: The CEO of the Heritage Foundation of Williamson County filed a federal lawsuit alleging wrongdoing tied to a 2025 document release, naming six defendants including former board members and staff. Tennessee Tech Admissions: Tennessee Tech says applications for the fall 2027 semester open Aug. 3, 2026, aiming to help students lock in scholarships, aid, and housing. Nashville Tech/Business: UnitedHealth Group is partnering with UT Health Sciences to expand health hubs across Tennessee. Local Media Ownership: WEHCO Media sold the Chattanooga Times Free Press to Craig and Max Fuller, effective July 31, after the paper won 23 Tennessee Press Association awards in June. Public Safety Tech Backlash: Flock Safety cameras face growing pushback nationwide, including reported deactivations and contract cancellations in multiple cities, with Tennessee mentioned.

Healthcare Deal: Erlanger Health System signed a non-binding Letter of Intent to partner with Prisma Health, including $2 billion in strategic capital to expand care across East Tennessee. Public Safety & Weather: Overnight storms brought flooding and damaged roads in Gilmer County, Georgia, including a water main break and relocations after floodwaters entered buildings. Local Heroism: Memphis police officers rescued a man from fast-moving floodwaters after a dramatic, hours-long effort in the Vollintine-Evergreen area. Immigration Enforcement: ICE expanded airport arrests using TSA passenger data, detaining travelers including people with work authorization and asylum seekers. Tennessee Business & Jobs: UnitedHealth Group backed UT Health Sciences’ health hub expansion with $4 million to grow from 5 to 13 hubs by end of 2027. Energy & Industry: TRISO-X announced an $11 million grant-supported expansion of its Oak Ridge nuclear fuel campus, targeting 1,000+ jobs. Food Safety: Publix recalled GreenWise frozen organic blueberries and mixed berries in multiple states, including Tennessee, due to possible E. coli O145 contamination. Sports: MLS All-Stars beat Liga MX 4-3 in Charlotte, with Son Heung-Min scoring twice and earning MVP honors.

AI & Data Centers: Willie Nelson joined the fight against AI data centers, blasting plans near Abbott, Texas as “water thieving” and harmful to rural communities. Health Access: A new survey finds millions of Americans struggle to get hormone care, especially in “hormone deserts” where specialists are scarce. Tennessee Courts/Policy: A federal judge consolidated multiple lawsuits challenging Tennessee’s pharmacy benefit manager law, a move that could reshape how PBMs operate in the state. Robocalls Crackdown: Tennessee’s attorney general joined a push for stronger federal “Know Your Customer” rules to stop illegal robocalls. Public Safety Jobs: The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation posted openings, including a CJIS Support Specialist role in Nashville and Safe Task Force criminal investigator positions in Memphis. Local Business & Finance: Regions Bank announced leadership changes in Nashville, with Lee Blank retiring and Chris Claybrook taking over as market president in 2027. Nuclear Energy Watch: DOE named Idaho a finalist for a Nuclear Lifecycle Innovation Campus, alongside Tennessee and other states.

Nuclear Policy: Tennessee is one of five Republican-led states (with Louisiana, Oklahoma, Utah and Idaho) that have agreed to accept spent nuclear waste in exchange for federal help developing “nuclear lifecycle innovation campuses,” a plan aimed at moving material away from population centers and potentially pairing storage with enrichment, reprocessing, fuel fabrication and even data centers. Local Politics & Utilities: In Alexandria, Tennessee, a sewer-rate fight is headed toward a showdown with the state utility regulator after aldermen refused a recommended 20% increase, raising the risk of court action. Tech & Consumer Safety: Tennessee’s Meta/Instagram teen-harm trial continues, with state lawyers arguing the company ignored its own research about addictive features and risks to adolescents. Public Safety & Housing: Memphis renters may still face higher costs, but Zillow data says nearly half of landlords are offering concessions to land new leases. Community & Culture: The Tennessee Aquarium IMAX theater brought back its 70mm film projector for the first time in a decade, debuting Christopher Nolan’s “The Odyssey.” Health & Education: NSF announced CyberAICorps funding for AI and cybersecurity training, including Vanderbilt University in Tennessee.

Meta Teen Harm Trial: Tennessee’s attorney general told jurors Meta knew Instagram was harming teens and allegedly stayed quiet, as the state’s case leans on internal research about the platform’s mental-health impact. Gerrymandering Fight: The Supreme Court’s latest stance on partisan map challenges keeps narrowing what plaintiffs must prove, shaping how Tennessee’s political lines may hold up in court. Data Center Push in Tennessee: Tennessee leaders and residents are weighing the boom’s local effects, while TVA signs a “ratepayer protection” pledge amid growing pressure for more oversight of data-center growth. Nashville Tech & Health: Vanderbilt Health and Siemens Healthineers announced an $87M technology partnership, signaling more investment in Tennessee’s medical research and care delivery. Local Economy & Housing: A Memphis cash-home buying service is pitching seven-day closings for sellers, reflecting continued demand for faster, simpler transactions. Oak Ridge Grid Research: Viridi says its battery system is installed at Oak Ridge National Laboratory to test next-generation grid resilience tech. Pets & Veterans: A Nashville pet center is expanding free wellness exams for qualifying groups, including veterans, the homeless, seniors, and students.

Meta Trial in Nashville: Tennessee’s attorney general opened a seven-week case accusing Meta of disregarding internal research on teen harm, saying Instagram kept risky features like autoplay and notifications on to maximize profit. Local Animal Services: Support is growing for fired Nashville animal control officer Kayla Lackey, with residents rallying at city hall and pushing for reinstatement. Data Centers and Power Concerns: Gibson County residents and leaders are weighing a new data center under construction, with utilities saying it will have minimal local strain despite millions of gallons of water use. Business Watch: A memo circulating among Nike employees claims two Memphis-area facilities could close, while Shelby County commissioners approved up to $125 million in short-term loans for operations. Sports & Culture: NFL training camp coverage continues, and Nashville’s East Bank greenway and regional food assistance grants are headed to Metro Council.

TVA Energy Plan Backlash: A Tennessean op-ed blasts TVA’s long-term Integrated Resource Plan for leaning on coal, gas and costly nuclear, saying the public comment process won’t truly change course. College Football Buzz: Neyland Stadium topped a new decibel ranking, hitting 137 decibels in a 2023 Georgia game. Leadership Shake-Up: Cracker Barrel named David Deno CEO, replacing Julie Masino, effective Aug. 10. Daylight Saving Fight: The U.S. House passed the Sunshine Protection Act to make daylight saving time permanent, now headed to the Senate. Titans Roster Watch: Training camp is set to start July 29, with the Titans needing to cut from 91 players to 53 by Aug. 30; key position battles are highlighted. Nashville Tech & Safety: SafeSpace Global launched a pilot with Blakeford at Green Hills for AI-based senior living elopement detection. Local Education: Tennessee State University named Jennifer Bell interim athletics director.

Smithsonian Showdown: A White House report accuses the Smithsonian of “ideological capture,” putting Congress on the spot as lawmakers weigh whether to intervene in a cultural fight. Voting Rights in Tennessee: Advocates and policymakers are gathering in Nashville as the National Urban League warns of threats to voting rights and Black political power. FDA Peptide Backlash: An FDA advisory panel approved untested peptides for manufacturing and sale, drawing fresh scrutiny of safety, conflicts, and Tennessee links to the industry. Health Care Transparency Push: Congress is again moving to expand price transparency rules for health care, with lawmakers and industry watching how far the effort goes. Local Politics & Community: Candidates drew voters at the Lone Oak Picnic in Cunningham, with public safety and cost-of-living themes leading the pitches. Nashville Business Update: Nash Dogs closed indefinitely after a kitchen fire, with the owner saying they’re waiting on the fire department report and plan to rebuild. Public Safety: A weak magnitude 2.0 earthquake rattled parts of southeastern Tennessee near Etowah, with no damage reported.

Big Tech’s AI spending hangover: Wall Street is starting to ask when AI capex turns into profit, not just how much companies are pouring into data centers—Alphabet and Tesla both slid hard after results emphasized massive spending. Tennessee sports staffing: Tennessee volleyball hired MaryAnn O’Toole as director of operations, bringing tournament-ops experience from 3Step Sports. Nashville policing scandal: A Nashville police officer resigned after her husband found videos of sex acts with a fellow cop inside a middle school. Voting rights fallout: A Supreme Court decision is expected to reshape districting far beyond Congress, with major knock-on effects for local elections in the South. SNAP squeeze: A new analysis says SNAP enrollment fell sharply after a 2025 law, with Colorado down 27,000+ and declines reported nationwide. Memphis legal case: Twelve people were indicted in a $2 million Nike cargo theft conspiracy tied to Memphis logistics. Heat risk: A heat dome pushed triple digits across much of the central U.S., with tens of millions under advisories. Entertainment: Kacey Musgraves canceled three tour dates without explanation, including Nashville on the broader run.

Mental Health & Community: Broncos safety Tycen Anderson says he’s opening the Anderson Wellness Group clinic in Toledo, Ohio, after his brother’s suicide pushed him to take mental health seriously. Sports & Local Culture: Memphis marked 10 years of Music Export Memphis with a Beale Street Birthday Bash, spotlighting local touring artists and the city’s music economy. Public Safety & Crime: Memphis police arrested two men tied to a Cooper-Young shootout, charging them with attempted murder and firearm-related counts; no injuries were reported. Politics & Civic Life: Tennessee leaders reacted to the death of Claiborne County Mayor Joe Brooks after a motorcycle crash, with officials offering condolences while the state investigates. Business & Sports Finance: The 76ers face a salary-cap puzzle as Kentavious Caldwell-Pope is set to join after a Memphis buyout, complicating roster moves under the NBA’s hard cap. Lottery: Powerball’s $600M jackpot is up for grabs, with Saturday’s drawing also tied to the game’s UK expansion. Religion & Law: A Chattanooga-area church is accused of violating the tax-exempt Johnson Amendment by explicitly backing GOP candidates, drawing legal scrutiny.

Tennessee Politics: A federal panel cleared Tennessee’s new congressional map, letting it be used in the Aug. 6 primary even though it splits a majority-Black Memphis district—another legal win for Republicans as the midterm fight heats up. Education & Safety: Trousdale County schools approved updated policies for the new year and created formal procedures for parent notifications after a March mass violence threat, while dress-code rules still allow shorts down to mid-thigh. Health Care Costs: The Trump administration is scrutinizing the American Medical Association’s role in CPT medical billing codes, with CMS asking for public comment on whether AMA’s influence could affect physician pay and raise costs. Local Economy & Community: Knoxville launched a pilot open-container district (DORA) on Market Square, starting with beer only, and a Trousdale County resource festival brought dozens of services to residents. Sports & Community: Tennessee State University placed athletic director Mikki Allen on administrative leave after an internal investigation tied to a letter from six coaches.

Tax-free weekend: Tennessee’s back-to-school sales tax holiday runs July 31–Aug. 2, with clothing and school supplies priced at $100 or less qualifying, plus computers/laptops/tablets up to $1,500. Local Health Care Deal: Williamson Health is moving toward a sale to Ascension, with a proposed locally based board to oversee safety, strategy and CEO performance. Data centers & costs: TVA signed the Trump administration’s Ratepayer Protection Pledge, aiming to keep data-center energy costs from being passed to the 10 million customers it serves. Politics & screens: Tennessee’s new K-5 law requires districts and charter schools to adopt age-appropriate digital device policies to limit unnecessary screen time. Public safety & community input: South Nashville teens pushed city leaders on safety and transit, calling for more teen-friendly activities and safer streets. Sports tragedy: Former NFL lineman Jordan Devey, a Super Bowl champion with the Patriots, died by suicide at 38.

Courts & Voting Rights: A federal court denied a preliminary injunction in a challenge to Tennessee’s redrawn congressional map, leaving the fight over whether Memphis’ majority-Black district was unlawfully dismantled still alive. Local Politics: Former Gov. Phil Bredesen endorsed Columbia Mayor Chaz Molder for Tennessee’s 5th Congressional District, arguing for “results, not theatrics” as the district’s new lines reshape the race. Immigration Policy: Trump allies are pushing a plan to bar pregnant women from entering the U.S. after the Supreme Court upheld birthright citizenship, with Tennessee Rep. Andy Ogles linked to the proposal. Business & Jobs: Volkswagen reported weaker profits and signaled more restructuring as it targets a roughly 4% margin “wake-up call,” while the fallout keeps raising questions about automaker layoffs. Health & Consumer Safety: USDA announced $35 million to combat feral swine, and Amy’s Kitchen recalled nearly 200,000 cans of soup over spoilage risk. Storm Safety: The BBB warned Tennesseans about storm-chaser contractor scams after severe flooding. Tech & Data Centers: Nashville leaders paused and tightened rules around data centers amid ongoing community pushback.

College Sports Policy: Tennessee’s chancellor Donde Plowman says the SEC is weighing in on bipartisan federal legislation to reshape college athletics, as lawmakers push changes tied to the Protect College Sports Act. SEC Football: At SEC Media Days in Tampa, the league’s nine-game conference schedule and strength-of-schedule talk set the tone for Mizzou’s toughest slate and its rivals. NCAA Breakaway Talk: SEC commissioner Greg Sankey says presidents are having “real” conversations about separating from the NCAA, even if it’s not the preferred path. Voting Rights/Redistricting: Federal judges allowed Tennessee’s new congressional map to move forward, rejecting a bid to block districts that split a majority-Black Memphis seat. Data Centers & Power Costs: TVA signed onto a Trump ratepayer protection pledge aimed at keeping data-center upgrade costs from landing on everyday customers. Peptide Regulation: An FDA advisory panel voted to loosen restrictions on several peptides despite scientists’ concerns about safety and unclear chemistry. Local Sports & Community: The WTA Memphis Classic returns at the new Leftwich Tennis Center, and Clarksville updated plans after a dispute over Ajax Turner Senior Center operations. Health & Safety: Tennessee schools move to limit classroom screen time, following a broader push after cellphone bans. Consumer/Legal Watch: Tennessee warns buyers about online “go-between” car scams after a Supreme Court upheld a Loudon County theft case. Human Interest: Make-A-Wish East Tennessee granted a Powell teen’s Tennessee football gameday wish, featured nationally on ESPN’s “My Wish.”

Tennessee Economy: State finance officials say June tax revenues hit $2.5 billion, topping budget by $281.8 million and beating last year, with sales and corporate taxes driving the surplus. Nashville Data Centers: Lawrenceburg residents are fighting a proposed data center near an Amish community, while other towns weigh moratoriums and new rules as AI power demand collides with local water and grid concerns. Local Politics: Three candidates are vying for Tennessee House District 32 in the Aug. 6 GOP primary, with the seat likely to swing to the winner in November. Higher Ed & Tech: A new report says financial aid offices are seeing “professional judgment” appeals that look AI-written, often missing the personal details staff need. Public Safety & Health: A study links GLP-1 drugs to lower cardiovascular risk in obstructive sleep apnea patients, especially those not on CPAP. Business & Crime: Federal prosecutors charged 12 people in a Memphis Nike cargo theft scheme, alleging unauthorized UPS labels diverted at least $2 million in shoes. Community & Environment: Tennessee’s Biodiversity Summit will feature Cornell’s Chris Wood as keynote, focusing on community science and AI for conservation.

Nashville Data Center Fight: Metro Council approved new zoning rules and a temporary permit freeze through December for DC BLOX’s proposed Nashville Zoo-area data center, adding distance limits, environmental protections, reporting, and a ban on the biggest facilities in Davidson County. Tennessee Politics in Court: Tennessee’s AG trial against Meta over Instagram addiction claims is underway, with the state arguing the app is unfairly and deceptively harmful to young users while Meta points to teen safety settings. College Football: Chattanooga five-star RB David Gabriel Georges committed to the University of Tennessee, a major boost for coach Josh Heupel’s recruiting. Local Health & Recovery: Ballad Health bought 15 acres in Unicoi for a new Unicoi County Hospital, clearing the way for construction after Hurricane Helene destroyed the prior hospital site. Business & Jobs: Kaiser Aluminum reported $96.8M Q2 net income in Franklin, while Community Health Systems’ quarterly earnings fell 75%—a reminder of pressure on Tennessee-area healthcare finances. WRDA Push: House and Senate committees advanced the Water Resources Development Act of 2026 toward full chamber votes.