Tennessee

The author moved from New York to rural Tennessee and struggled to build a social network until joining a small playgroup, which eventually led to forming a close-knit community of local moms. This community improved both the author's mental health and her daughter's social experiences.

Evelyn Henley's home in Tennessee was damaged by a January ice storm, leading to displacement and ongoing delays in repairs. Allstate provided insurance funds, but permit issues and required electrical upgrades have stalled progress, with an estimated completion date now set for July 2026.

A sex offender, Matthew Hensley, was arrested for failing to register his address after a conviction of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor. He was found in a secret compartment at the same home where a missing Tennessee mother, Amber Graham, was discovered dead. Authorities are investigating her death.

A wanted sex offender, Matthew Hensley, was arrested in Cleveland, Ohio, at the same home where a missing Tennessee mother, Amber Graham, was found dead. Hensley was sought for failing to register his address after a conviction for unlawful sexual conduct with a minor and was discovered hiding in a secret compartment. Graham’s death is connected to Hensley in a police report, and a child linked to her was found at a local fire station.

A 43-year-old man wanted for failing to register his address after a sex crime conviction was arrested at a Cleveland home where a Tennessee mother was found dead. Matthew Hensley was discovered in a secret compartment, and he is listed as an involved person in the death of Amber Graham, 37, whose body was found at the same location. A child believed to be Graham’s was later found at a fire station with a phone number for her grandmother in Tennessee.

FEMA has approved over $16 million to assist Tennessee communities in recovering from multiple disasters and implementing mitigation projects. The funds aim to support recovery efforts and reduce future risks.

Tennessee set a record for new business filings during the first quarter of 2026. The report also highlights continued strong population growth in the state.

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) is warning families about a growing threat of financial sextortion targeting children, which can have deadly consequences. The crime involves coercing minors for financial gain through explicit content, and authorities emphasize its severe risks.

FEMA has approved $16 million in additional winter storm recovery funds for Tennessee, allocated through the Public Assistance and Hazard Mitigation Grant Programs. The funds include $14.6 million for infrastructure repairs and debris removal, with specific amounts designated to electric companies, counties, and public facilities. An additional $1.4 million will support hazard mitigation projects to reduce future disaster risks.

The NAACP has demanded the suspension of Donald Trump’s Memphis Safe Task Force following the deaths of two Black men in Tennessee, one in police custody and another by national guard troops. The group called for a federal investigation into the taskforce, citing insufficient civilian policing training for federal and military officers deployed there.

Sissy, an Asian elephant who spent 26 years at The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee, died on July 6 due to advanced osteoarthritis. She had previously lived in Texas zoos and survived flooding at Frank Buck Zoo before retiring to the sanctuary in 2000.

Tennessee will maintain its execution protocol despite a botched attempt in May where medical staff failed to find a vein during an inmate's execution. Gov. Bill Lee stated procedures were followed, granted a one-year reprieve to Tony Carruthers, and Republican lawmakers called for a pause on executions for an independent review.

Renewed tensions in the war with Iran caused gas prices to jump 5 cents overnight, reaching a national average of $3.88 per gallon. Delays in oil tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz and a declared end to the ceasefire by President Trump contributed to the surge, though crude oil prices remain stable around $70 per barrel. Tennessee drivers currently experience lower gas prices at $3.50 per gallon compared to the national average.

Marsha Blackburn's gubernatorial campaign ad features anti-China rhetoric, including smashing fortune cookies and claims to protect Tennessee farmland from Chinese acquisition, despite USDA data showing China owns less than 1% of U.S. farmland. The ad repeats themes from her 2024 Senate campaign, which also used Asian stereotypes and targeted the Chinese Communist Party.

Civil rights lawyers from the ACLU and National Immigration Law Center are petitioning a federal judge to reopen a case challenging Tennessee's law that criminalizes illegal immigration. The judge previously dismissed the case due to plaintiffs' lack of standing, but lawyers provided new evidence showing two plaintiffs face arrest under the law. The law imposes a Class A misdemeanor for remaining in Tennessee after a deportation order, with potential jail time and fines.

Tennessee is experiencing significant data center growth, including xAI's 'Colossus' supercomputer in Memphis, but faces rising energy costs and community opposition due to environmental and grid concerns. ThinkTennessee reports conflicting electricity bill impacts and varying data center counts between industry trackers.

Six states, including Oregon, Utah, Vermont, Tennessee, Mississippi, and New Jersey, have enacted laws this year to address chronic absenteeism by implementing measures such as attendance monitoring, public data reporting, and penalties for parents. Chronic absenteeism is defined as missing 10% or more school days, with specific laws varying by state to include truancy notices, fines, and task forces.

A Florida airport and a Tennessee bridge are renamed after Donald J. Trump. New signs were installed at the French Broad River in Dandridge, Tennessee, and on the main entrance ramp to the airport in West Palm Beach, Florida.

More than 20 individuals were charged in a drug investigation in Putnam County, Tennessee, involving multiple law enforcement agencies. The operation led to 22 indictments on drug-related charges, including methamphetamine and Schedule II drug offenses, with court dates set for September 2026.

Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee stated execution protocols will remain unchanged after a botched lethal injection attempt on Tony Carruthers, while Carruthers' attorneys and advocates demand an investigation. The next scheduled execution, set for August 13, involves Darrell Hines.

Attorneys for Tennessee death row inmate Darrell Hines are requesting Gov. Bill Lee to delay Hines' scheduled execution. They argue the state should first complete an unspecified process before proceeding.

A state audit of Memphis-Shelby County Schools found $54 million in potential spending abuse and widespread document mismanagement under previous administrations. The audit, which led to a Republican-led state takeover temporarily blocked by a federal judge, highlighted issues in a 2022 custodial contract and identified $65 million in policy-violating spending.

A single mother in Nashville, Tennessee, experienced sudden flash flooding that submerged her home and photography studio within 20 minutes, despite the property not being in a flood zone. The flooding, caused by heavy rainstorms, has occurred twice recently, damaging her livelihood and prompting concerns about drainage issues.

The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency reported no boating-related deaths during the Fourth of July holiday, with 11 injury incidents and 16 boating under the influence arrests. A drowning victim was recovered in Stewart County, and the total boating-related deaths this year are 10, down from 13 in the same period last year.

A report by ThinkTennessee finds that data center growth in Tennessee has significantly increased electricity usage, causing residential power bills to rise 3.2% in areas with data centers compared to a 1.3% statewide average. The report highlights uneven bill increases and potential grid strain as data centers concentrate in Memphis, Nashville, and Knoxville.

Sen. Marsha Blackburn avoided questions about debating Republican gubernatorial candidates, claiming she has participated in 'lots of forums' with them. Her opponents, Monty Fritts and John Rose, disputed this, stating no public forums have occurred since she announced her candidacy. Blackburn's campaign cited private events and a January town hall, but opponents highlighted these lacked debate elements and excluded them.

Recent rain in Middle Tennessee has improved drought conditions, with Nashville now in moderate drought and most areas receiving 2-6 inches of rain (50-90% of normal). Agricultural and hydrologic conditions have benefited, though some regions still require more rainfall to fully replenish water storage. Additional rain is forecasted, which could further alleviate drought conditions.

The U.S. is experiencing one of the worst tick seasons on record, with Tennessee doctors warning of serious health risks from untreated bites. Dr. Brian Wilcox from Ascension Saint Thomas advises checking for ticks after outdoor activities, using tweezers for removal, and avoiding home remedies like nail polish. Early medical intervention is emphasized to prevent diseases like Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever.

A new In-N-Out Burger is set to open in Madison, Tennessee on Friday, July 10, at 1900 Gallatin Pike N. The restaurant will begin operations on the specified date at the given location.

Amber Graham, a 37-year-old woman from Spring Hill, Tennessee, was found dead in Cleveland, Ohio, after traveling there to meet a man she met through an online video game. Her 8-year-old daughter arrived alone at a fire station, and a friend reported hearing a man angry with Graham during her last phone call. The cause of death is under investigation, with no arrests made.

The FBI executed a search warrant at a home in Smyrna, Tennessee early Thursday morning. The investigation into the matter is ongoing.

A Kentucky man was required to pay thousands of dollars after illegally cutting down trees in Tennessee. The incident highlights the legal consequences of taking property that does not belong to him.

A woman from Spring Hill, Tennessee, traveling to Ohio was found dead after being reported missing. Her daughter is currently in custody.

Kubota donates a tractor to Navy veteran Keelan Brown, owner of Farmer Brown’s Produce in Tennessee, through its 'Geared to Give' program. The program, which has given 56 pieces of equipment to farming veterans since 2015, awarded Brown one of five tractors this year to support his agricultural business.

Several states, including Georgia, Maryland, Tennessee, and Virginia, have enacted laws to expand or protect access to contraception. These measures include allowing pharmacists to prescribe birth control, requiring health plans to cover contraception, and establishing legal rights to contraception access.

The new Federal Scholarship Tax Credit has left microschool leaders uncertain about eligibility, as the Treasury Department's guidance clarifies that scholarships apply to public, private, or religious schools. States like Florida, Ohio, and Tennessee plan to participate, but microschools operating outside traditional private school sectors face ambiguity.

Six states, including Utah, Oregon, Vermont, Tennessee, Mississippi, and New Jersey, enacted new laws this year to combat chronic absenteeism by implementing measures such as attendance monitoring, public data reporting, parental penalties, and task forces. Chronic absenteeism is defined as missing 10% or more school days, with specific state laws addressing truancy, community service limits, and attendance officer funding.

Multiple states, including Republican-led ones like Georgia and Tennessee, and Democratic-led states like Maryland and Virginia, have enacted laws to expand or protect access to contraception. Examples include allowing pharmacists to prescribe birth control, mandating insurance coverage for contraception, and requiring educational institutions to report on contraception access.

Several states, including Tennessee, have settled with Block (owner of Cash App) over allegations of misleading users about fraud protection and lacking phone support until 2021. Block will pay $45 million and up to $120 million in victim compensation, while improving customer service practices.

A SmartAsset study found that in Tennessee, the time required for median-income households to save for a 20% down payment on a home increased by 25 months between 2016 and 2026, with home prices rising from $163,763 to $334,075. Minimum-wage earners in Tennessee would need 44.3 years to save for a down payment in 2026, while the study ranked Tennessee 14th nationally for the largest increase in required savings time.