AGP Executive Report

Local Sports: Bryan College’s Lady Lions were picked 13th in the AAC preseason coaches’ poll as they open 2026 under first-year coach Antoni Lauzon-Iglewski, with eight newcomers joining the roster. Coaching Change: Murray State volleyball begins a new era after Dave Schwepker’s 28-year run; Tristyn Krzos takes over for the 2026 season. Community & Safety: Parents are pushing for more crossing guards after a 15-year-old was hit near Cordova High School, with officials citing a pickup crash and driver issues. Youth Sports Leadership: Lakewood named Matt Brummette its new varsity softball coach, promoting from JV and assistant roles. Tennessee Culture & Arts: Nashville’s Brown County Playhouse brings “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown” for a two-weekend run. Outdoor & Lifestyle: The 127 Yard Sale kicks off along U.S. 127, with Tennessee stops drawing shoppers and families. Health & Weather: A sweltering heat wave continues across central and southern states with heat index warnings. Music & Sports Tourism: Rory McIlroy is confirmed for next week’s FedEx St Jude Championship in Memphis.

Back-to-School Fun for Families: Mount Carmel is hosting a free Back to School Bash Saturday, Aug. 8 at 3 p.m. at the town park, with a first-ever Touch-A-Truck display, giant water slides, bounce houses, foam party, dunk tank, and more—plus a free Child Safety Seat Checkpoint with Hawkins County EMS from 3–6 p.m. Politics & Community Impact: Justin Pearson won Tennessee’s Democratic primary for the newly redrawn 9th District, but faces a tougher general election landscape after GOP-led redistricting. Statewide Election Buzz: Heidi Kuhn won the Democratic nomination for Tennessee’s 8th District, setting up a matchup with incumbent David Kustoff. Local Governance & Culture: Nashville created an Office of Entertainment in the mayor’s office, with Mayor Freddie O’Connell announcing Sarah Childress, PhD, as executive director. Public Health & Safety: Walmart shoppers in 19 states—including Tennessee—are urged to check pantries after a Bettergoods Pistachio Nut Butter recall over possible Salmonella contamination. Sports Lifestyle: Caitlin Clark’s season momentum continues after a minutes-restricted return from a back issue, with the Fever now hunting top playoff seeds.

Meta Youth-Safety Ruling: A New Mexico judge ordered Meta to pay $567M into a teen mental health fund and require youth-safety changes after finding Instagram/Facebook harmed children’s wellbeing. Tennessee Politics, Big Picture: Tennessee’s governor race is set for November with Sen. Marsha Blackburn winning the GOP nod and Memphis City Councilwoman Jerri Green taking the Democratic primary—meaning the state is poised to elect its first female governor. Congress Shake-Up: In the newly redrawn 5th District, former Agriculture Commissioner Charlie Hatcher upset Trump-backed Rep. Andy Ogles, setting up a November matchup against Columbia Mayor Chaz Molder. Local Governance Wins: Blount County’s GOP sweep included a new county mayor, while other county races saw incumbents fall in Cumberland County. STEM & Community: Mystic Aquarium landed a $4M DOJ grant to expand its STEM mentoring program across 25+ states/territories. Faith & Community Milestone: Six Benedictine Sisters marked Diamond Jubilees at Sacred Heart Monastery. Family Fun Americana: The Oscar Mayer Wienermobile is scheduled for two East Tennessee Kroger stops later this month.

Election Day Tennessee: Voters head to the polls today for the GOP governor primary and county general elections, with results rolling in after 8 p.m. ET. The governor race pits Marsha Blackburn, John Rose and Monty Fritts on the Republican side, while Democrats choose among five candidates. Voting Rights & Memphis Representation: Memphis residents react to Tennessee’s new congressional map that split the majority-Black district, raising concerns about diluted Black representation. Public Health: A drug-resistant “superbug” fungus, Candida auris, is spreading nationwide, with CDC tracking showing thousands of cases this year—especially in hospitals and nursing homes. Culture & Family Fun: Dude Perfect wrapped its 2026 Squad Games Tour with record crowds, including a Knoxville stop. Food & Local Escapes: Murfreesboro’s Krustaceans Seafood is serving big coastal-style boils, and Middle Tennessee’s “beach” moment is alive at Anderson Beach on Percy Priest Lake. Education Watch: A new look at when kids go back to school says the answer is complicated—varies widely by region and district. Community & Faith: OU plans to dissolve its Division of Access and Opportunity, absorbing services into Student Affairs and Academic Affairs.

Business Leadership: Captives.Insure names Rachel Kortman as Chief Underwriting Officer, expanding underwriting governance for captive insurance solutions. Local Education: Greeneville’s school board bids farewell to Crystal Hirschy, Cindy Luttrell, and Craig Shepherd as unopposed candidates step in for the Aug. 6 election. Politics & Representation: A newly drawn congressional map that splits Memphis debuts in Tennessee’s primary, with voters raising concerns about diminished representation in the reshaped 9th District. Election Day (Community): East Tennessee voters head to the polls Thursday, with precinct moves in Maryville and reminders to check IDs and locations. Public Safety & Justice: A Rockwood man pleads guilty to child pornography charges and will serve three years in prison, followed by sex-offender registration. Health & Privacy: A Tennessee-focused debate over whether schools collect too much data pushes back on surveillance replacing trust in classrooms. Culture & Community: Alzheimer’s Tennessee and Hillcrest’s “Memories and Miles” fundraiser honoring Brian Tuggle sells out and tops its goal. Food Safety: A salmonella outbreak linked to jalapeños has sickened people across 27 states, prompting recalls and restaurant removals. Sports (Tennessee): Tennessee volleyball legend April Chapple dies at 62; Memphis-area golf and MTSU football also draw attention this week.

Back-to-school health: Metro Public Health is expanding immunization hours and adding pop-up clinics across Davidson County so kids can get required shots before kindergarten and 7th grade entry. Disaster relief deadline: Nashville’s Assessor says less than 30 days remain to apply for Winter Storm Fern property assessment disaster relief, with a Sept. 1, 2026 cutoff for qualifying damaged homes and businesses. Community food access: Coalition for Food and Health Equity is launching its first Ujamaa Café™ Community Fridge in Nashville, aiming to make locally sourced, grab-and-go healthy food easier to reach for both customers and unhoused neighbors. Local arts & culture: Toni Brown is the August Artist of the Month at the Rogersville Local Artists Gallery, with a reception set for Aug. 14. Public safety jobs: The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation is hiring for multiple roles, including interim forensic scientist positions in Jackson and criminal investigator openings in West Tennessee, plus intelligence analyst and network architect lead postings. Education accountability debate: A newly released Memphis-Shelby County Schools audit is reigniting questions about how the district is governed and how taxpayer funds are handled.

Smokies Car-Free Culture: Cades Cove is vehicle-free all day Wednesdays through September, letting cyclists and pedestrians slow down on the 11-mile loop and spot more of the flowers and scenery. Civic Life & Education: A Tennessee Tech talk argues civic education isn’t just for future politicians—it matters to everyone who’ll shape decisions in engineering, nursing, teaching, and more. STEM for Classrooms: TVA is opening applications for its STEM Award Program, offering select K-12 schools up to $5,000 for projects tied to energy, environment, and economic development (deadline Sept. 15). Addiction Care Pipeline: UTC launched fully online Clinical Addiction Studies Certificates to help address Tennessee’s addiction counselor shortage. Student Safety From AI: Professional Educators of Tennessee is pushing stricter rules after arrests involving AI-altered images of students and staff. Road Safety Summit: The Lutzie 43 Foundation brings its 43 Key Seconds safe-driving summit to Signal Mountain students Aug. 11. Local Media Shift: Chattanooga Times Free Press is returning to local family ownership after a sale, aiming to keep community reporting strong.

Local Leadership: Leadership Franklin marked 30 years of community-building at Bicentennial Park, celebrating alumni, announcing the 2027 class, and honoring co-founder Caroline J. Cross. Public Health & Safety: A Walmart-exclusive Bettergoods Pistachio Nut Butter recall was issued after routine testing found Salmonella in lot LB028ACP04, shipped to 19 states including Tennessee. Education Policy: Knox County Schools approved a step-by-step process for reviewing book challenges under Tennessee’s Age-Appropriate Materials Act, as more than 120 titles remain under review. Healthcare Leadership: Parkridge East Hospital named Nicholas Pounder its new CEO, bringing operational and compliance leadership experience from TriStar Southern Hills Medical Center. Science & Tech: IonQ and EPB launched the Tennessee Quantum Communications Research Center, placing a commercial quantum memory unit inside EPB’s live fiber network. Community & Culture: Bronwyn headlines a Cambridge, Henry County area house concert Aug. 6, with an optional potluck before the show. Arts & Commerce: Shoptalk Fall 2026 debuts in Nashville with a “Retail Unplugged” agenda focused on ecommerce, shoppertainment, and customer loyalty. Sports & Local Pride: The Memphis Classic wrapped with 16-year-old Kristina Liutova winning the WTA title, a milestone for the tournament and Memphis tennis.

Local Education: Memphis-Shelby County Schools kicks off the new year with reassigned students and ongoing teacher vacancies, as district leaders face fresh scrutiny. Mental Health & Policy: A Tennessee Commission on Children and Youth executive testified in the state’s mental health trial against Meta, saying student “sad or hopeless” reports have risen over the past decade. Courts & Immigration: Rep. Andy Ogles moves to impeach a federal judge again after another stay keeps Temporary Protected Status protections for Somali nationals in place. Public Health: Mid-South pediatricians warn families to prep for back-to-school respiratory illnesses, including RSV and adenovirus. Health Care Innovation: Vanderbilt begins implantations of the FDA-approved M3 transseptal transcatheter mitral valve replacement for high-risk patients. Community & Culture: New Hope Children’s Advocacy Center hosts Feast for Hope, bringing 10 local chefs together to support abused and traumatized children. Outdoors & Family: TWRA is leasing dove fields for the 2026 season, with landowners able to earn up to $4,200. Food Safety: Walmart recalls Bettergoods pistachio nut butter in 19 states over possible Salmonella contamination. Tech & Neighborhoods: East Tennessee towns tighten rules and pauses to keep AI data centers away from homes, citing noise, distance, and environmental concerns.

Teacher Safety Push: Tennessee lawmakers unveiled plans to crack down on teacher misconduct, including sexual abuse, after a Nashville case involving alleged AI-made inappropriate student videos. Public Transit Access: Nashville’s Journey Pass fare-free rides expand for more Davidson County residents, adding eligibility documents tied to programs like TennCare and WIC. Deaf Bible Translation: Deaf Pathway Global is starting a new Deaf-friendly Bible translation approach with the Book of Esther, built around shared “sign roots.” Education & Health: Quillen College of Medicine at ETSU welcomed its largest-ever entering class (100 students) and UTC-Siskin’s geriatric physical therapy residency graduated its first cohort. Community Safety: Memphis police say a 5-year-old’s fatal shooting was accidental after a child found an unsecured firearm. Local Culture & Faith: A Nashville bookstore canceled a launch tied to “White. Blonde. Jew” after anti-Zionist backlash, while a Christian Zionist group opened a visitor center in Samaria. Sports & Hometown Pride: Rachel Heck returns to compete in the U.S. Women’s Amateur at The Honors Course in Ooltewah.

Community Food & Faith: UT Extension’s Master Gardener program is partnering with The Caring Place in Bradley County to grow and deliver fresh vegetables to families facing hunger. School Safety & Tech: Knox County Schools is weighing new limits on elementary social media and school email, plus tighter rules on AI impersonation, following Tennessee’s Teen Social Media and Internet Safety Act. Local Elections & Civic Tools: A 15-year-old Knox County student launched voteknox.org to help voters find registration, polling spots, and candidate bios for down-ballot races. Public Safety: A Lenoir City man faces felony vandalism charges after investigators say he shot and damaged four license plate reader cameras in Blount County and Maryville. Accessibility Outdoors: Campbell County and TWRA opened a new ADA-accessible courtesy dock on Norris Lake at the Davis Cemetery Access Area. Water Wisdom: A drowning-prevention reminder stresses undistracted supervision and barriers around pools and water. Arts & Culture: Artist Betye Saar, a major voice in Black identity art, has died at 99. Road & Street Safety: Nashville police are investigating a deadly downtown crash that killed an Australian insurance executive after an alleged red-light run.

Sports & Community: Memphis residents honored 68 people who died in Shelby County jails since 2018 with a flower vigil outside 201 Poplar, part of Just City’s “Make Them Known” effort to remember inmates as people, not case numbers. Culture & Local Pride: A Nashville teacher fired over alleged AI photos/videos of students is raising fresh questions about consent and classroom tech use as the school year approaches. Golf Spotlight (Tennessee): Memphis native Rachel Heck returns to the U.S. Women’s Amateur at The Honors Course, a homecoming that traces her path from teen phenom to Stanford alum and beyond. Tennis (Memphis): The WTA Memphis Women’s Singles final is set for Aug. 2 at Leftwich Tennis Centre, with streaming available via Fubo. Food & Lifestyle: A protein-packed frozen yogurt trend is driving lines—and $20 price tags—thanks to premium toppings and higher-protein froyo options. Civic Life: Tennessee’s primary election is nearing, with voters urged to pay attention to primaries as races for governor and Congress take shape. Health: CDC data shows gestational hypertension is rising nationwide, with Tennessee listed among states below the national average.

Back-to-school & community support: Clarksville parents get a practical rundown for the Aug. 5 start, including open houses and supply planning, while Memphis families received 300 free Nike shoe pairs from Operation Memphis 901 and a Westwood/Whitehaven health fair brought free wellness resources. Education & kids’ culture: UT Press launched its first children’s picture book, “My Magic Tux,” and Ruby Bridges brought a literacy-focused festival to the National Civil Rights Museum. Civic life & voting access: Early voting ended with turnout of 2,444 in DeKalb County, and Shelby County is investigating a voting irregularity where four judicial races were missing from about 300 voters’ ballots at one early voting machine. Local events & lifestyle: Parkers Crossroads hosted West Tennessee Vintage Baseball using 1864 rules, and Gibson County’s first Clover Classic Car and Tractor Show raised funds for 4-H school supplies. Health & safety: Publix recalled frozen berries that may contain E. coli. Politics & culture: Kamala Harris spoke in Nashville at the National Urban League, signaling plans to revisit the Electoral College and expand the Supreme Court.

College Sports Policy: Lawmakers and the Trump administration are pushing a bipartisan “Protect College Sports Act,” with SEC and Big Ten negotiations shaping the final push. Public Health & Food Safety: Publix expanded its frozen berry recall after E. coli concerns, including products shipped to Tennessee. Local Civic Life: A Times opinion piece argues Tennessee’s local government is being eroded, raising questions about how communities get things done. Community & Philanthropy: The East Tennessee Foundation awarded $250,000 to 17 nonprofits via the Thompson Charitable Foundation Fund, backing education, workforce, health, and quality-of-life projects. Culture & Events: Chattanooga’s week includes film, music, and outdoor options, from an IMAX screening at the Tennessee Aquarium to live shows at local venues. Sports & Lifestyle: The U.S. Women’s Amateur tees off at The Honors Course in Ooltewah, spotlighting Tennessee’s golf scene and local talent like Clarksville’s Hanley Long. Politics Watch: Polling shows Sen. Marsha Blackburn leading Tennessee’s GOP gubernatorial primary as early voting wraps.

Education & Community: Tennessee Tech will open its fall 2027 admissions window Aug. 3, with early applicants positioned for scholarships, aid, and housing. Local Grants: MainStreet Dayton announced a new round of private facade improvement grants, with applications due Sept. 30, 2026. Student Spotlight: Cordova High students earned National Beta Club honors in Nashville, including a national Spanish championship. Aging & Health: Ballad Health’s Center for Healthy Aging was recognized as an Age-Friendly Health System, aligning care with older adults’ goals. Public Safety & Health: Publix expanded a frozen blueberry recall tied to E. coli O145:H28, with Tennessee among affected states. Civic Life: Early voting ends today ahead of Aug. 6, and a local op-ed urges voters to look past election noise. Culture & Books: UT Press debuts “My Magic Tux,” co-authored by J.R. Greene, with proceeds supporting UT Libraries. Sports & Eligibility: A judge granted a class-wide NCAA eligibility injunction affecting some athletes, while Tennessee’s own court action granted a fifth season to players including Jalen Washington. Outdoors & Family Fun: The 731 Day water balloon fight returned to Casey Jones Village, drawing hundreds of kids and families.

Cruise Safety: A Carnival Glory passenger, David Crosby II, was arrested in Florida after an alleged attack on children playing onboard, with charges of child abuse without great bodily harm. Workforce & Community: Goodwill Opportunity Centers in Chattanooga and Dalton are hosting hiring events early August, offering on-site interviews and free career services. Tennessee Agriculture & Family Fun: Martin’s Grassroots Soybean Festival lands a $25,000 Tennessee Department of Agriculture title sponsorship ahead of its Sept. 8 kickoff, with education programming tied to UT Martin. Local Public Safety: Memphis Safe Task Force arrested 30 people and recovered firearms, including suspects wanted for murder and child rape. Arts & Culture: CeCe Coakley shares her independent-artist journey in a Nashville spotlight interview, while Ella Langley’s “Choosin’ Texas” keeps climbing on the charts. Community Health & Safety: A DOJ-backed case highlights alleged child sex crimes tied to a Nashville man, with investigators warning families across multiple states. Outdoor Remembrance: Chattanooga-area groups plan a Sept. 11 remembrance day with a “Bricks of Honor” dedication.