AGP Executive Report

State Revenue Watch: Tennessee reported June tax revenues of $2.5 billion—$281.8 million above budget and up 6.68% year-to-date—driven by strong sales and corporate collections, while fuel taxes lagged. Election Updates: Early voting is underway for the Aug. 6 election, with Roane County seeing higher early turnout than 2022, and Dyer County reporting 852 in-person votes in the first four days (plus 45 absentee ballots). Local Politics: Candidates are lining up for Tennessee House District 32, where Melissa Caldwell Browder, Jack Stockton, and Paul Suarez face off in the GOP primary. Nashville Data Center Fight: Nashville leaders approved new rules and a pause on data center development as the zoo-area controversy grows, while other towns weigh moratoriums amid rural grid and water concerns. AI, Immigration Tech: Memphis-based Visalaw Ai won a $100,000 prize for AI tools aimed at streamlining immigration law practice. Public Safety & Courts: Federal prosecutors charged 12 people in a Memphis Nike cargo theft scheme tied to alleged misuse of UPS labels. Community & Culture: The Museum of Appalachia received a $55,000 grant to modernize electrical infrastructure, and the Hickman County Times won six Tennessee Press Association awards.

Data Center Policy: Nashville Metro Council approved new zoning rules for data centers near the Nashville Zoo, including distance limits, environmental protections, a ban on the largest facilities in Davidson County, and a temporary permit freeze through December—neighbors say it could slow DC BLOX’s pipeline. Consumer Protection & Tech: Tennessee’s AG trial against Meta over Instagram addiction claims is underway, with the state arguing the app is unfairly and deceptively addictive to young users while Meta points to “Teen Accounts” safeguards. Elections & Turnout: Early voting is moving across Tennessee’s August 6 races, with Montgomery County reporting 4,700+ votes in the first days and other counties posting municipal early-voting totals. Criminal Justice: A Montgomery County teacher was indicted on charges of exhibiting obscene material to a minor, while a Sumner County jury convicted a Hendersonville man on 34 counts of child sexual abuse material, facing up to 136 years. Public Safety & Local Government: Metro Water employee John Honeysucker was placed on administrative leave after a federal search warrant; and Springfield officials clarified that homeowners with drainage easements are responsible for keeping them clear. National Politics: House Republicans and Democrats clashed at a Smithsonian hearing as lawmakers press the museum’s leadership over alleged political activism.

Elections & Voting Access: Early voting is underway for Tennessee’s Aug. 6 primary and general elections, running through Aug. 1, with voters choosing governor, U.S. Senate and House races plus state legislative contests and local offices. Local Government: Memphis City Council confirmed Mayor Paul Young’s new CAO and CFO—Chris Winton and Art Davis—after the mayor’s administration ended appointments for Antonio Adams and Walter Person. Health Care & Maternal Care: Tennessee Republicans marked four years since Dobbs, but critics say the near-total abortion ban has worsened maternal health outcomes and deepened provider shortages. Courts & Legal Battles: UT Research Foundation sued AI company Anthropic over alleged neural-network patent infringement, seeking damages and an injunction. Public Safety & Immigration: A report highlights how federal immigration enforcement can escalate deadly encounters, raising questions about accountability and oversight. State Finances: Tennessee reported June tax revenues at $2.5 billion, beating estimates and tracking ahead of last year. Tech & Policy: Tennessee’s trial against Meta over youth mental health claims is set to begin Monday, as scrutiny grows nationwide.

Memphis Public Safety: A large law enforcement presence is reported at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, with streets blocked as multiple agencies investigate. Elections & Voting: Tennessee election officials say more than 120,000 Tennesseans have cast early ballots since early voting began, with early voting continuing through Aug. 1. Courts & Death Penalty: Attorneys for Darrell Hines ask a court to halt his Aug. 13 execution unless the physician tied to a prior failed execution attempt is removed. Business & Small Firms: The SBA announced a $6 million competition to modernize Women’s Business Centers, with Tennessee included; proposals are due Aug. 10. Local Economy: Costco plans a Clarksville expansion, but Montgomery County must approve a performance-based incentive agreement first. Health Policy: A KFF investigation finds Deloitte-run Medicaid eligibility systems wrongly denied or misdirected disabled Americans’ benefits in at least 25 states. Infrastructure & Tech Politics: A new report highlights how data centers are becoming flashpoints over land, power, and water—issues Tennessee communities are already wrestling with. Arts & Community: Chattanooga’s bluegrass scene gets a locals-only ticket presale for major fall events, while TWRA announces a second annual Tennessee Biodiversity Summit at MTSU on Oct. 21.

Tennessee Politics & Elections: Early voting is picking up ahead of the Aug. 6 primary, with more than 75,000 Tennesseans casting ballots in the first two days, and the GOP and Democrats trading leads in key counties as redistricting reshapes several races. Gubernatorial Race: Two GOP governor contenders are drawing contrasts: Rep. Monty Fritts leans on a constitutional hardline agenda and lower-profile fundraising, while U.S. Rep. John Rose runs as an outsider focused on roads, rural health, education, and nuclear energy. Criminal Justice: Shelby County’s DA won’t pursue charges in the fatal Burger King shooting of Darrin Pigram by a federal agent tied to the Memphis Safe Task Force, saying deadly force was legally justified. Courts & the Death Penalty: A death row inmate seeks Tennessee Supreme Court action over who will oversee his lethal injection, arguing a prior botched execution raises unconstitutional risk. State Government Accountability: A lawsuit alleges Agriculture Commissioner Andy Holt pressured the Tennessee Farm Bureau to cut ties with an agent after a personal dispute tied to Blackburn’s campaign. Tech & Consumer Protection: Meta’s Instagram “addictive design” case is underway in Nashville, putting Tennessee’s consumer-protection claims before a jury. Public Safety & Housing: A felony camping case highlights how Tennessee is enforcing homeless camping rules after the U.S. Supreme Court decision allowing bans.

Elections & Voting Security: Tennessee’s top election official Tre Hargett says the state is “vigilant” after President Trump raised concerns about election vulnerabilities, while a separate national debate over the SAVE America Act spotlights new photo-ID and proof-of-citizenship demands that critics say could block millions of eligible voters. Campaigns & AI Rules: In the Tennessee 6th District special election, both sides are using AI-generated political imagery without clear disclosures, just as Tennessee’s deepfake disclosure law took effect July 1—raising questions about whether it applies to federal races. GOP Primary Politics: Former Gov. Bill Haslam endorsed Charlie Hatcher in Tennessee’s District 5 GOP primary, as early voting ramps up ahead of the Aug. 6 election. Death Penalty Court Fight: Attorneys for Darrell Hines asked the Tennessee Supreme Court to halt his Aug. 13 execution unless the state replaces the doctor involved in a failed May execution, after a judge ordered the state to say whether Dr. Mark Fowler will be used. Health Policy: A new report says ACA marketplace enrollment fell by 2.6 million in 2025-26 after enhanced premium tax credits expired, pushing many off coverage. Local Government & Growth: Chattanooga and Hamilton County are pushing to bring Opportunity Zone 2.0 tax incentives to Rossville Boulevard, aiming to spur investment along the corridor. Business & Jobs: ImageQuest consolidated offices into a new Brentwood headquarters, adding 40 jobs in Williamson County. Civic & Community: Memphis established paid parental leave for city employees, and the state backed a $500,000 boost to strengthen Tennessee’s 211 network.

Memphis Safe Task Force: The family of Darrin Pigram, killed May 13 at a Burger King during a Memphis Safe Task Force operation, is demanding a “swift and public accounting,” saying TBI’s account doesn’t match restaurant video reviewed by the Shelby County district attorney. Education Policy: Tennessee’s third-grade reading and retention law is under scrutiny as testing data shows large numbers of students missing the ELA benchmark, with the “answer isn’t so simple” debate growing over what the law is actually changing. Elections & Power: The NRCC expanded its 2026 House target list by seven Democrat-held districts, including Tennessee’s 9th, as GOP map changes after Supreme Court rulings keep reshaping the battleground. Consumer Protection: Meta faces a Tennessee trial over claims Instagram was designed to be addictive and harmful to teens, with the state seeking penalties and court-ordered changes. Tech & Defense: SpaceX is reportedly in talks with the Pentagon to supply billions in data-center capacity for AI training, signaling a bigger role for Tennessee-linked infrastructure in national security. Local Business/Industry: A CBRE report says HQ relocations picked up in 2025, with Nashville among metros drawing more corporate moves.

Death Penalty Oversight: Gov. Bill Lee says Tennessee won’t review its botched execution of Tony Carruthers after the team couldn’t establish an IV line—an outcome critics say should trigger a full investigation. Local Governance: A legal fight is brewing over who controls Nashville International Airport, with the state and Metro each appointing separate boards and both claiming authority as a federal decision looms. Federal Budget & Travel Access: President Trump’s budget proposal could cut funding for the Essential Air Service program, putting subsidized flights from O’Hare to downstate Illinois at risk. Immigration Enforcement Clash: Border czar Tom Homan warns of an ICE surge tied to New York’s sanctuary stance and Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s refusal to cooperate. Public Safety & Crime: Memphis police charged a mother with first-degree murder after she allegedly shot a man she found hiding under her 13-year-old daughter’s bed. Cyber/Child Safety: TBI says it helped arrest an Overton County man accused of sending child sexual abuse material via TikTok and text messages. Tech & Energy Politics: Governments face mounting backlash over AI data centers as locals push back on land, power, and water demands. Tennessee Environment: TWRA received the Governor’s Environmental Stewardship Award for water quality. Sports Calendar: IndyCar and NASCAR both hit Tennessee this weekend, with Nashville’s Music City Grand Prix and North Wilkesboro’s Window World 450 drawing national attention.

ACA Health Coverage: A new analysis says 2.6 million people lost ACA marketplace coverage after enhanced premium tax credits expired, raising the stakes for Tennesseans and others facing higher premiums. Early Voting in Shelby County: Women leaders and voting groups kicked off an early-voting push, urging residents to use any early voting site in Shelby County through Aug. 1. Food Safety: Taylor Farms expanded an iceberg lettuce recall tied to cyclospora, now covering 27 states including Tennessee, with best-by dates into early August. Local Government: Blount County commissioners approved major property-related resolutions tied to the Alcoa South Plant and Pellissippi Parkway right-of-way, despite public pushback. Federal/Legal Watch: A Wilson County pastor, Greg Locke, described an IRS-involved raid tied to accusations of financial mismanagement at Global Vision Bible Church. Tennessee Politics & Grants: State Rep. Kirk Haston announced $102,000 for Parsons arts facilities, including a pavilion and roof repairs. Travel & Business: Southwest announced new nonstop Caribbean routes from Nashville starting next spring, adding Aruba, Montego Bay, and St. Thomas. Sports: Memphis Grizzlies and Golden State Warriors advanced to the NBA Summer League title game after Saturday semifinals.

Elections & Voting Rights: Hundreds marched in Nashville for the 5th annual Rep. John Lewis Way event, tying the fight for voting rights to Tennessee’s post–Voting Rights Act redistricting and the loss of the state’s only majority-Black Democratic district. Legal Accountability: The father of missing autistic teen Sebastian Rogers filed a $25 million lawsuit against Sumner County and Tennessee agencies, alleging failures that left his son missing since February 2024. State Politics: A lawsuit accuses Tennessee Agriculture Commissioner Andy Holt of pressuring Farm Bureau to back Sen. Marsha Blackburn for governor. Local Government: Blount County School Board Rep. Randi Earley Howard resigned after her employer flagged a conflict tied to her public service. Public Safety & Infrastructure: Clarksville Gas and Water scheduled water outages and road closures for valve replacements on Stone Mountain Road and Wilma Rudolph Boulevard. Community Services: Leadership Tennessee selected 52 participants for its 13th class, including multiple Shelby County leaders from business, healthcare, government, and nonprofits. Business & Tech: X and major music publishers agreed to end their copyright-related lawsuits, with dismissals filed in federal court.

Data Center Fight in Tennessee: Local officials are putting data center plans on ice as residents push back over land use, electricity, and water demands, with Nashville facing a new wave of scrutiny near the Zoo and Fisk University. Civil Rights + Environmental Pressure: The NAACP is suing Elon Musk’s xAI over claims it ran unpermitted gas turbines for its Memphis-area Colossus supercomputer, alleging pollution harms nearby Black neighborhoods. Economic Development Pitch: Tennessee is courting Paramount Skydance as California’s mega-merger battle heats up, trying to lure Hollywood jobs south amid broader corporate flight. Aviation Governance Clash: Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport Authority filed lawsuits to stop a state takeover of its board, arguing Tennessee’s new law would vacate the current commissioners. Elections on the Ground: Early voting is underway across Tennessee ahead of the Aug. 6 primary and general election, with national Democrats rallying in Memphis after redistricting. Public Safety: A Memphis woman was charged with murder after police say she shot a man she claimed was hiding under her daughter’s bed.

Elections: Early voting is underway across Tennessee for the Aug. 6 primary and general, with voters able to cast ballots from July 17 through Aug. 1; Shelby County’s schedule runs weekdays 11 a.m.–7 p.m. plus weekend hours, and voters are reminded to bring photo ID and check registration. Governor’s Race: Republican John Rose used a public forum to argue data centers are “the future of technology,” while saying he wants local control and caution about dependence on foreign AI infrastructure. Campaign & Courts: A lawsuit alleges Tennessee Agriculture Commissioner Andy Holt pressured the Tennessee Farm Bureau to back Marsha Blackburn; Holt denies wrongdoing. Local Government: Liberty’s mayor and aldermen are split over whether to remove a part-time secretary/treasurer/recorder, with claims of political retaliation and a disputed vote. Public Safety & Crime: Nashville Fire Department graduated 53 new firefighters, including Metro police officers completing EMS training. Tech & Policy: A Tennessee Supreme Court execution-related ruling requires the state to disclose whether it plans to use the same doctor involved in a prior botched execution. National Politics: Sen. Mike Lee’s bill would allow “cyber privateers” to target foreign cyberthreats and recover scam money, while a separate First Amendment fight heads toward the U.S. Supreme Court over leaflet distribution at a city-owned arena.

Elections & Voting Access: Early voting for Tennessee’s Aug. 6 primaries and county general elections runs July 17–Aug. 1, with voters able to use any early voting site in their county but required to bring a valid photo ID. In Shelby County, officials laid out the schedule and locations for the July 17 start, noting redistricting means many voters will be in new congressional districts. Campaigns & Party Politics: Democrats in deep-red Tennessee are lining up to challenge Sen. Bill Hagerty, while attention also turns to the GOP gubernatorial race as Marsha Blackburn raises money ahead of the primary and faces calls for more debate access. Local Government & Legal Questions: Alexandria’s write-in mayor and alderman bids are being questioned over whether the candidates meet residency rules to be sworn in if elected. Child Care Policy: Tennessee’s Child Care Red Tape Reduction Act is designed to streamline permits and inspections to help more early learning facilities open. Public Safety & Health: A cyclosporiasis outbreak linked to Taco Bell shredded iceberg lettuce is prompting new CDC guidance and state-by-state case updates. Sports & Community: The Minnesota Wild released its 2026-27 schedule, opening Oct. 1 at Nashville, while Memphis crowned The Four Way Soul Food Restaurant as the city’s top chicken tenders.

Daylight Saving Time Push: A bill to make daylight saving time permanent is back in play, with Tennessee and the rest of the country facing later winter sunrises and sleep-safety concerns after the 1974 experiment was dropped. Drunk-Driving Accountability: Missouri’s new “Bentley Law” expansion now requires convicted drunk drivers to pay child support when they kill a parent, following Tennessee’s earlier version. Corrections Fight: Davidson County sued Tennessee over alleged state failures to take custody of inmates the state is required to house, seeking a court order to force transfers. Rent-Price Legal Battle: A federal judge ruled that AGs can pursue fines and injunctions in the RealPage rent-setting case, but some claims are blocked by prior private deal terms. Election Countdown: Tennessee’s early voting for the Aug. 6 state primary and county general election starts Friday, with ID rules and locations posted via GoVoteTN. Tennessee Campaign Watch: In the GOP governor race, John Rose urged Marsha Blackburn to release documents from a confidential Senate ethics probe. Public Safety/Defense: The Pentagon and Navy faced backlash over low-altitude Blue Angels flyovers; the Navy said no reprimands would follow. Nashville/MLS: Nashville FC is riding World Cup momentum into the MLS restart, unbeaten at home and leading the Eastern Conference.

Tennessee Law Update: New Tennessee laws took effect July 1, touching emergency care for pregnant patients, drink-spiking testing requirements, and new rules tied to immigration enforcement partnerships with ICE. Public Safety Enforcement: “Operation Southern Slow Down” ramps up speed and distracted-driving enforcement across Tennessee and neighboring states through July 19. Higher Education & Sports: ACC commissioner Jim Phillips warns college sports lack “restraint,” pointing to tampering and runaway spending as Congress debates the Protect College Sports Act. Data Centers & Power Costs: EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin blasted a statewide data center moratorium as a “cop out,” while new analysis projects data-center electricity demand could drive billions in higher wholesale power costs across PJM states including Tennessee. Religious Liberty Rankings: Arkansas tops a First Liberty Institute religious liberty index; Tennessee ranks second, with the report citing state legal protections. Local Accountability: A Memphis-Shelby County Schools forensic audit spotlights potential fraud, waste, and abuse, with procurement and contracting flagged as a major area of concern. Metro Police Misconduct: A former Metro Nashville officer is accused of filming sexual activity at a middle school while students were inside.

Data Center Fight: President Trump blasted New York’s one-year pause on new data centers as a “terrible decision,” arguing the facilities are job engines and “Money Machines,” while communities nationwide keep pushing back over power, water, and noise impacts. Education Policy: The Trump administration launched a crackdown on how districts handle teacher sexual misconduct claims, warning it could withhold federal funds from schools that don’t stop educators from moving to new jobs. Legal/Privacy: Tennessee AG Liz Murrill joined a multistate settlement with 23andMe over a 2023 genetic data breach, with limited recovery for affected consumers and state claims. Local Politics (Farragut): A Farragut mayoral forum drew controversy after two candidates skipped and organizers faced questions about transparency and communication. Statehouse/Policy: The House passed the Sunshine Protection Act to make Daylight Saving Time permanent, with Senate action still pending. Public Safety: Tennessee Highway Safety Office and Shelby County partners ran a crosswalk “talk” after Memphis was ranked deadliest for pedestrians, focusing on why people avoid crosswalks. Regional/Community: Nolensville Little League won the state title and earned a spot in the Southeast Regional. Elections/Leadership: John Rose picked up a Chattanooga Times Free Press endorsement for governor, while Marsha Blackburn’s office faced a reported Senate ethics probe tied to campaign spending.