A newly signed Tennessee law hands campus leaders more power to discipline and remove professors, narrowing tenure safeguards at UT Knoxville.

DOE official Timothy Walsh visited Oak Ridge and pitched reusing cleaned-up federal land for reactors, AI supercomputers and medical‑isotope work. The plan ties cleanup to new private investment.

Commissioners unanimously asked the budget committee to use the certified tax rate or lower, a move that could shrink Blount County's levy as reappraisals land.

The White House’s FY2027 request would trim about $354M from Oak Ridge National Laboratory, cutting several fusion and basic‑science lines while raising some defense programs. Local projects and contractors could feel the impact.

The Tennessee House passed HB2408 to cap automated calls and require reporting, but experts warn scammers may adapt with AI and spoofing rather than disappear.

Tennessee lawmakers passed HB2018 to require sheriffs with ICE agreements to honor detainers and hold people up to 48 hours. The bill now heads to Gov. Bill Lee and would take effect July 1, 2026.

Gov. Bill Lee signed a resolution designating June 2026 as "Nuclear Family Month," a move critics say sidelines Pride and risks excluding nontraditional families.

The IRS offered disaster relief after Winter Storm Fern, but reporting differs: some outlets say Tennessee has until June 8 while an IRS release lists May 22 for named counties.

New federal SNAP and TANF rules could shrink Tennessee's count of economically disadvantaged students, risking tens of millions in K‑12 funding unless the state updates its formula.

HB2246 passed the Tennessee House on April 13, setting sourcing, storage and consent rules for non‑FDA stem cell and regenerative therapies while banning embryo‑derived products. The bill now heads to the Senate.

Anderson County's early voting opens Wednesday with sites in Clinton, Oak Ridge and Andersonville. Key hours, deadlines and ID rules are listed.

Four candidates are contesting Knox County's trustee seat in a May 5 primary as oversight and fiscal management become central issues.

House and Senate measures would expand when Tennesseans could use deadly force to stop property crimes, prompting warnings from prosecutors and safety groups.