Public Policy Tipoffs Involving Tennessee
11 Defendants Charged In Dismantling Of Decade-Long Nationwide Marriage Fraud Scheme
NEW YORK, Aug. 12 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York posted the following news release:
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11 Defendants Charged In Dismantling Of Decade-Long Nationwide Marriage Fraud Scheme
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United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jamie McDonald, Attorney General for the United States, Todd Blanche, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations ("HSI"), Pete Gizas, Director of U.S. Citizenship
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American Farm Bureau Federation: State Farm Bureau Communicators Honored for Outstanding Work
NASHVILLE, Tennessee, Aug. 12 -- The American Farm Bureau Federation issued the following news release:
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State Farm Bureau Communicators Honored for Outstanding Work
The American Farm Bureau Federation announced a slate of top state Farm Bureau communications projects during the 2026 Communications Awards, held at this year's Communications Conference in New Orleans, Louisiana. The competition recognizes state Farm Bureau professionals for their exemplary work in communicating about agri
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APSU welcomes new CMCSS teacher residents at annual Grow Your Own signing day
CLARKSVILLE, Tennessee, Aug. 12 -- Austin Peay State University posted the following news:
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APSU welcomes new CMCSS teacher residents at annual Grow Your Own signing day
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Stefano Busico (center), signs his Clarksville-Montgomery County School System teaching contract on July 27, at Austin Peay State University. Busico is one of 23 CMCSS educational assistants entering the Grow Your Own Teacher Residency this year. | Photos by Sean McCully
CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. - Austin Peay State Univers
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Army Reserve 'Warrior Medics' diminish disease, non-battle injuries during Regional Medic 26, WAREX 26
FORT BRAGG, North Carolina, Aug. 11 -- The U.S. Army Reserve Command issued the following news:
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Army Reserve 'Warrior Medics' diminish disease, non-battle injuries during Regional Medic 26, WAREX 26
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FORT MCCOY, Wis. - More than 80 U.S. Army Reserve Soldiers from myriad units stemming from the Army Reserve Medical Command organized and performed a real-world medical mission in support of approximately 6,000 U.S. service members and NATO partner nations that comprised of the training a
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Ascension Saint Thomas Hospital Midtown Celebrates Record-Breaking Year With More Than 7,000 Births
WASHINGTON, Aug. 11 [Category: Health Care] -- Ascension, a faith-based healthcare organization, posted the following news release:
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Ascension Saint Thomas Hospital Midtown Celebrates Record-Breaking Year With More Than 7,000 Births
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While birth rates across the United States continue to decline, Middle Tennessee is experiencing a different trend. As the region grows, more families are choosing Ascension Saint Thomas Hospital Midtown for maternity care, resulting in a record-breaking y
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Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti Urges Congress to Strengthen Federal Protections Against ATM Crime
NASHVILLE, Tennessee, Aug. 12 -- Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti issued the following news:
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Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti Urges Congress to Strengthen Federal Protections Against ATM Crime
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Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti has joined a 15-state coalition urging Congress to pass the Safe Access to Cash Act (S. 3798/H.R. 1631), legislation that would strengthen efforts to prosecute the organized criminal networks responsible for a growing number of ATM robb
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Austin Peay's Govs Week of Service connects campus, community
CLARKSVILLE, Tennessee, Aug. 12 -- Austin Peay State University posted the following news:
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Austin Peay's Govs Week of Service connects campus, community
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A volunteer helps organize the Yaipak warehouse during a previous Govs Week of Service, an annual initiative at Austin Peay State University. | Photo by Sean McCully
CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. -Austin Peay State University's Office of Community Engagement and Sustainability hosted the annual Govs Week of Service from June 15-18, providing s
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Center of Excellence Awards Telehealth Grants to Increase Rural Healthcare Access
MEMPHIS, Tennessee, Aug. 11 -- The University of Tennessee Health Science Center posted the following news:
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Center of Excellence Awards Telehealth Grants to Increase Rural Healthcare Access
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As it approaches its first anniversary, the Tennessee Rural Health Care Center of Excellence at the University of Tennessee Health Sciences is again expanding healthcare access in rural communities by awarding $135,000 in telehealth grants to six rural health providers or organizations across the
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Discovery Channel's "Expedition Unknown" features UTC underwater archaeology research in Jamaica
CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee, Aug. 12 -- The University of Tennessee Chattanooga Campus posted the following news:
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Discovery Channel's "Expedition Unknown" features UTC underwater archaeology research in Jamaica
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Andrew J. (AJ) Van Slyke discusses historic maps with Discovery Channel host Josh Gates during filming of "Expedition Unknown" in Jamaica. Photo courtesy of Discovery Channel.
Archaeologist Andrew J. (AJ) Van Slyke, a visiting lecturer at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
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Documents Show ICE Call Center Planned for Adams
NASHVILLE, Tennessee, Aug. 11 [Category: Law/Legal] -- The Tennessee Bar Association posted the following commentary blog:
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Documents Show ICE Call Center Planned for Adams
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Federal contract documents show that the Robertson County city of Adams is the proposed site of a new U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) call center.
The Tennessee Lookout reports that the Department of Homeland Security has awarded a $63 million contract to an Alaska corporation to operate a national
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Federal Register: SBA Issues Final Rule Removing 8(a) Program Social Disadvantage Presumption for Individual Owners
WASHINGTON, Aug. 12 (TNSFR) -- The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) amends its regulations to align the Section 8(a) Business Development Program with constitutional requirements and the law. The rule applies only to the 8(a) BD eligibility of small businesses owned and controlled by individuals. It does not in any way amend or affect the eligibility of entity-owned small businesses.
Specifically, the rule amends SBA's regulations to remove the rebuttable presumption that individuals be
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First Horizon Foundation Commits $5 Million Lead Gift for New College of Medicine Interdisciplinary Building
MEMPHIS, Tennessee, Aug. 12 -- The University of Tennessee Health Science Center posted the following news:
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First Horizon Foundation Commits $5 Million Lead Gift for New College of Medicine Interdisciplinary Building
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Transformational investment officially launches private fundraising efforts for state's largest higher education project
The University of Tennessee Health Sciences announced today that First Horizon Foundation has committed $5 million as a lead private investment in th
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Giffords Opposes ATF Proposed Rule on Biological Sex Designation Citing Risks to Firearm Background Checks and Transgender Rights
WASHINGTON, Aug. 12 -- In response to a federal agency request for information, the following public comment letter was submitted electronically to the regulations.gov site.
August 4, 2026
ATF Rulemaking Comments
Mail Stop 6N-518, Office of Regulatory Affairs
Enforcement Programs and Services
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives
99 New York Avenue NE
Washington, DC 20226
ATTN: RIN 1140-AA64; Docket No. ATF-2026-0010; ATF No. 2025R-33P
INTRODUCTION
This comment is submi
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Giving Review: 1964 Civil Rights, '65 Voting Rights, and '69 Tax Reform Acts
WASHINGTON, Aug. 13 -- The Giving Review, an independent platform featuring analysis of and commentary about philanthropy and giving, posted the following article on Aug. 12, 2026, by Michael E. Hartmann:
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The 1964 Civil Rights, '65 Voting Rights, and '69 Tax Reform Acts
Among the House members who cast ordinary yea-or-nay votes on all three bills, 72% voted for all three of them. Of the Senators who cast such votes on all three bills, 62% supported all three.
Opponents of policy reform
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Heat And Dehydration Can Increase The Risk Of Painful Kidney Stones, Ascension Saint Thomas Physician Warns
WASHINGTON, Aug. 11 [Category: Health Care] -- Ascension, a faith-based healthcare organization, posted the following news release:
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Heat And Dehydration Can Increase The Risk Of Painful Kidney Stones, Ascension Saint Thomas Physician Warns
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August is historically one of the hottest months in Middle Tennessee, and this year's forecast calls for more days of intense heat and humidity. Ascension Saint Thomas clinicians say staying hydrated is one of the best ways to protect against heat-
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Hendrix College President Karen Petersen's Appointment Extended to 2031
CONWAY, Arkansas, Aug. 13 -- Hendrix College issued the following news release:
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Hendrix College President Karen Petersen's appointment extended to 2031
The Hendrix College Board of Trustees Executive Committee unanimously approved a five-year contract to retain President Karen Petersen through May 31, 2031. Appointed by the Hendrix trustees in January 2023, Petersen has strengthened the College's competitive position, financial health, and integration of the liberal arts and career prep
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Identifying Minors Online Topic of CRS Report (Part 1 of 2)
WASHINGTON, Aug. 12 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R47884) on July 28, 2026, entitled "Identifying Minors Online" by Clare Y. Cho, industrial organization and business policy specialist:
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SUMMARY
Concerns about potential harms to minors on the internet, particularly on social media platforms, have grown in recent years. Dating to the 1990s, policymakers have enacted legislation seeking to protect minors online, some of which create requir
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Longtime Partnerships, Strong Financials Shine at Summer Advisory Board Meeting
MEMPHIS, Tennessee, Aug. 12 -- The University of Tennessee Health Science Center posted the following news:
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Longtime Partnerships, Strong Financials Shine at Summer Advisory Board Meeting
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During its summer meeting Friday, Aug. 7, the University of Tennessee Health Sciences Advisory Board honored the Memphis Medical Society, heard about research developments and received an update on the university's improving overall financial position and capital projects.
Chancellor Peter Buckley,
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MTSU, Middle Tennessee Electric, Qubit Engineering collaborate to advance electric distribution grid analytics
MURFREESBORO, Tennessee, Aug. 12 -- Middle Tennessee State University posted the following news:
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MTSU, Middle Tennessee Electric, Qubit Engineering collaborate to advance electric distribution grid analytics
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MURFREESBORO, Tenn. -Middle Tennessee Electric, Middle Tennessee State University and Qubit Engineering have announced a strategic collaboration to develop, test, and validate advanced analytics tools for electric distribution systems -with the goal of moving new algorithms from
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NAR Meets With White House, DOL, and HHS Officials to Advance Health Coverage Options for Real Estate Professionals
WASHINGTON, Aug. 12 -- The National Association of Realtors issued the following news release:
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NAR Meets with White House, DOL, and HHS Officials to Advance Health Coverage Options for Real Estate Professionals
The National Association of REALTORS(R) (NAR) this week met with officials from the White House, U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to discuss expanding affordable health coverage options for self-employed Americans, including r
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New leaders join the Maryville College dining staff, hours to expand in Pearsons and Isaac's for 2026-27
MARYVILLE, Tennessee, Aug. 12 -- Maryville College posted the following news:
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New leaders join the Maryville College dining staff, hours to expand in Pearsons and Isaac's for 2026-27
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Maryville College students will find several changes to campus dining when the 2026-27 academic year begins, including new culinary and dining leadership, expanded hours at Isaac's Cafe, extended lunch service at Pearsons Dining Hall and updates to the structure of several student meal plans.
The change
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NRC Issues 4 Nuclear Plant Exemptions
WASHINGTON, Aug. 12 (TNSFR) -- The Nuclear Regulatory Commission issued four exemptions requested by Constellation Energy Generation LLC, Baltimore, Maryland, and Tennessee Valley Authority between April 1 and June 30, 2026.
The exemptions cover Braidwood, Byron and LaSalle County stations; Watts Bar Nuclear Plant; Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant; and Dresden and Quad Cities nuclear power stations.
For Constellation, two exemptions address use of decommissioning trust fund earnings for specified de
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NRC Opens Hearing Process for the Orano Project IKE Uranium Enrichment Facility
WASHINGTON, Aug. 12 (TNSFR) -- The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has received an Orano Enrichment USA LLC application for a license to construct and operate the Project IKE Enrichment Facility in Roane County, Tennessee, and has established procedures for public participation in the licensing proceeding.
The proposed facility would use centrifuges to enrich uranium by mechanically separating isotopes. The requested license would authorize Orano to receive, possess, use, transfer and deliver byp
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Okla. A.G. Drummond Co-Leads 25-State Coalition Urging Supreme Court to Take Up Iowa Immigration Enforcement Case
OKLAHOMA CITY, Oklahoma, Aug. 13 -- Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond issued the following news release:
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Drummond co-leads 25-state coalition urging Supreme Court to take up Iowa immigration enforcement case
Attorney General Gentner Drummond is co-leading a coalition in supporting Iowa's law criminalizing illegal entry into the state. Drummond and 24 attorneys general filed an amicus brief today in Bird v. Iowa Migrant Movement for Justice, urging the U.S. Supreme Court to hear
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Park National Bank Urges CFPB to Simplify TRID Mortgage Disclosures and Rescission Rules
WASHINGTON, Aug. 12 -- In response to a federal agency request for information, the following public comment letter was submitted electronically to the regulations.gov site.
Park National Bank | 51 N 3rd Street, Newark, OH 43055
August 10, 2026
Mortgage Disclosures and Rescission RFI
c/o Legal Division Docket Manager Consumer Financial Protection Bureau 445 12th St. SW Washington, DC 20024-2101 Submitted via http://www.regulations.gov/.
Re: Docket No. CFPB-2026-0018
Dear Sir or Madam,
Par
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Pinnacle Financial Partners expands National Capital Region team with two veteran financial advisors
ATLANTA, Georgia, Aug. 12 [Category: BizFinancial Services] -- Pinnacle Financial Partners, an asset regional bank that says it provides banking, investment, trust, mortgage and insurance products and services, posted the following news release:
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Pinnacle Financial Partners expands National Capital Region team with two veteran financial advisors
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McLean, VA. August 12, 2026 - Pinnacle Financial Partners has added Darryl Curry and Rob Pilot as financial advisors, continuing the firm's i
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Pinnacle is No. 16 among PEOPLE's Companies That Care
ATLANTA, Georgia, Aug. 12 [Category: BizFinancial Services] -- Pinnacle Financial Partners, an asset regional bank that says it provides banking, investment, trust, mortgage and insurance products and services, posted the following news release:
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Pinnacle is No. 16 among PEOPLE's Companies That Care
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Firm lands in top 20 two years in
Pinnacle Financial Partners has been named in the top 20 among the 2026 PEOPLE(r) Companies That Care list for the second year in a row by Great Place
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Renowned scholar Pratim Biswas named to lead Vanderbilt Engineering initiatives at West Palm Beach campus
NASHVILLE, Tennessee, Aug. 11 -- Vanderbilt University School of Engineering posted the following news:
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Renowned scholar Pratim Biswas named to lead Vanderbilt Engineering initiatives at West Palm Beach campus
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Pratim Biswas, a leading academic leader, member of the National Academy of Engineering, and a renowned aerosol scientist whose work has applications in energy and environmental nanotechnology, solar energy, air quality, medicine, and numerous other fields, has been named the i
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Report: Law Firms Enjoyed Strong 2nd Quarter
NASHVILLE, Tennessee, Aug. 11 [Category: Law/Legal] (TNSrep) -- The Tennessee Bar Association posted the following commentary blog:
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Report: Law Firms Enjoyed Strong 2nd Quarter
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Large and mid-sized U.S. law firms enjoyed a strong second quarter thanks to increases in demand for their services and their billing rates, new financial figures show.
Demand, measured in the number of hours lawyers worked, rose 3% over the second quarter of 2026, while billing rates increased more than 7% d
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Sabbatical Spotlight: UC Foundation Professor of Criminal Justice Courtney Crittenden
CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee, Aug. 12 -- The University of Tennessee Chattanooga Campus posted the following news:
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Sabbatical Spotlight: UC Foundation Professor of Criminal Justice Courtney Crittenden
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Dr. Courtney Crittenden stands in her Brock Hall office. Photo by Angela Foster.
Sabbatical Spotlight highlights the meaningful and innovative work faculty pursue during professional development leave. The series also shows how leave can support scholarly, creative, teaching and professional
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Sedgwick Appoints Anders Grotte as Chief Commercial Officer in Sweden
MEMPHIS, Tennessee, Aug. 13 -- Sedgwick, a provider of technology-enabled risk and benefit solutions, issued the following news release:
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Sedgwick appoints Anders Grotte as Chief Commercial Officer in Sweden
STOCKHOLM, Sweden - Sedgwick, the world's leading risk and claims administration partner, has appointed Anders Grotte as Chief Commercial Officer in Sweden, effective 1 September. In this role, he will lead commercial strategy and business development, strengthen client relationships
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Smithsonian Institution: Sensory Overload Makes It Harder for Female Treefrogs To Select a Mate
WASHINGTON, Aug. 13 (TNSjou) -- The Smithsonian Institution issued the following news release:
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Sensory Overload Makes It Harder for Female Treefrogs To Select a Mate
When Faced With Too Many Mating Calls, Female Treefrogs Take Longer To Decide or Abandon the Search Altogether
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When shopping for a new appliance, choosing a movie to watch or even ordering a cup of coffee, people often experience "choice overload." New research from the Smithsonian suggests that female Cope's gray treef
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Tenn. Economic Dept.: Prysmian to Expand With $100 Million Investment in Jackson
NASHVILLE, Tennessee, Aug. 13 -- The Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development issued the following news on Aug. 12, 2026:
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Prysmian to Expand with $100 Million Investment in Jackson
Highlights
* Global energy and digital connections solutions provider to create 100 jobs
* $100M expansion will double size of current facility
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Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee, Deputy Gov. and Department of Economic and Community Development Commissioner Stuart C. McWhorter and Prysmian offici
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Tennessee Tech music professors represent university at International Horn Symposium in Poland
COOKEVILLE, Tennessee, Aug. 12 -- Tennessee Technological University issued the following news release:
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Tennessee Tech music professors represent university at International Horn Symposium in Poland
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Two faculty members in Tennessee Tech University's School of Music recently represented the university on the international stage with a performance at the 58th International Horn Symposium in Krakow, Poland.
Gozde Cakir Ramsey, assistant professor of flute at Tech and principal flutist
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The Bays Mountain Cut-Ups Come to Bluegrass Monday, Aug. 24
JONESBORO, Arkansas, Aug. 12 -- Arkansas State University posted the following news:
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The Bays Mountain Cut-Ups Come to Bluegrass Monday, Aug. 24
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JONESBORO - The Bays Mountain Cut-Ups will perform at the next KASU-FM Bluegrass Monday concert. The show will be at 7 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 24, at the Collins Theatre, 120 West Emerson St., Paragould.
Based in east Tennessee, this quartet is a fast-rising band that is quickly building a reputation for their energetic stage shows filled wit
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The Detour with David Chang Premieres Sunday, September 20 at 9pm ET/PT
ATLANTA, Georgia, Aug. 12 [Category: BizMedia] -- CNN posted the following news:
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The Detour with David Chang Premieres Sunday, September 20 at 9pm ET/PT
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August 12th, 2026
Official Trailer: https://youtu.be/vG6XvOxS3YE
NEW YORK, NY - (August 12, 2026) - CNN Original Series The Detour with David Chang will premiere on Sunday, September 20 at 9pm ET/PT on CNN. Produced by Majordomo Media and Tremolo Productions, the six-episode series follows the acclaimed chef, restaurateur and auth
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Tusculum University, Greeneville Flyboys to hold ceremony and stair climb to commemorate the 25th anniversary of 9/11
GREENVILLE, Tennessee, Aug. 11 -- Tusculum University posted the following news:
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Tusculum University, Greeneville Flyboys to hold ceremony and stair climb to commemorate the 25th anniversary of 9/11
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GREENEVILLE - Tusculum University and its Athletic Department are teaming with the Greeneville Flyboys to remember the 3,000 lives lost and the heroism of firefighters and other public safety personnel as the United States observes the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
Tus
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US Oil and Gas Industry Opposes USDA Proposal to Classify Pipeline Transportation as Agricultural Land Citing Legal and Security Concerns
WASHINGTON, Aug. 12 -- In response to a federal agency request for information, the following public comment letter was submitted electronically to the regulations.gov site.
August 10, 2026
Mr. Matt Allen
Director, USDA Office of Homeland Security
1400 Independence Avenue SW, 1457-S
Washington, DC 20250
Re: Docket No. USDA-2026-0001; RIN 0560-AI70 - Comments Opposing the Inclusion of NAICS Code Series 486 (Pipeline Transportation) in the Proposed Definition of "Agricultural Land" under t
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USCIS Plays Key Role in Takedown of Decade-Long Marriage Fraud Ring
WASHINGTON, Aug. 13 -- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services issued the following news release on Aug. 12, 2026:
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USCIS Plays Key Role in Takedown of Decade-Long Marriage Fraud Ring
11 accused of multimillion-dollar sham marriage scheme
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NEW YORK - U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services played a key role in the indictment unsealed today charging 11 individuals with conspiring, over the course of more than a decade, to orchestrate more th
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UTIA Plant Pathologist Selected as Fulbright Distinguished Scholar
KNOXVILLE, Tennessee, Aug. 12 -- The University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture issued the following news release:
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UTIA Plant Pathologist Selected as Fulbright Distinguished Scholar
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Heather Kelly to research soybean diseases in Brazil
JACKSON, Tenn. -Heather Kelly, field crops pathologist in the University of Tennessee Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, has received a prestigious Fulbright Distinguished Scholar Award for two one-month trips to Brazil in 2026 and 202
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Vanderbilt Bookstore now available as an internal campus supplier
NASHVILLE, Tennessee, Aug. 12 -- Vanderbilt University posted the following news release:
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Vanderbilt Bookstore now available as an internal campus supplier
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Vanderbilt University and Vanderbilt Health departments now have another option for purchasing officially licensed Vanderbilt merchandise. The Vanderbilt Bookstore (Follett Higher Education) is now available as an Internal Campus Supplier of licensed merchandise, enabling purchases through each organization's standard procurement
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Victory at Fifth Circuit: Biden's gas stove rule goes down in flames
BATON ROUGE, Louisiana, Aug. 11 -- Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill issued the following news:
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Victory at Fifth Circuit: Biden's gas stove rule goes down in flames
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Attorney General Liz Murrill announced that the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in favor of Louisiana and six other states challenging the Biden administration's energy-efficiency standards for stoves, ovens and other cooking appliances.
The Fifth Circuit found the Department of Energy broke the law by ref
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W&M's We the Teachers brings educators from all 50 states for civics training
WILLIAMSBURG, Virginia, Aug. 12 -- William and Mary issued the following news:
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W&M's We the Teachers brings educators from all 50 states for civics training
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On a Sunday evening in late July, history, civics and social studies teachers stood in the Great Hall of the Wren Building-teachers from Brevig Mission, Alaska, and Memphis, Tennessee; from Honolulu and Las Vegas; from Washington, D.C., and a Department of Defense school in Germany.
The gathering-a cohort of 100 teachers-was th
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What Patients Really Want: B. Joseph Pine II on Transformation in Healthcare
LINCOLN, Nebraska, Aug. 13 -- NRC Health, a provider of customer intelligence in healthcare, issued the following news:
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What Patients Really Want: B. Joseph Pine II on Transformation in Healthcare
A person doesn't walk into a healthcare encounter hoping for a service. They want an outcome. They want to feel better, understand what's next, regain confidence, or improve their quality of life.
That's the premise behind the upcoming keynote at NRC Health's Human Understanding Beyond | HUB
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