Van Epps and Behn secure victories in the Middle Tennessee U.S. House primary
Democrat Aftyn Behn from Nashville and Republican Matt Van Epps, a former General Services Commissioner, will compete in the special election for Tennessee’s 7th Congressional District. Van Epps secured his place after winning the GOP primary with nearly 49% of about 35,000 votes, surpassing Dixon state Rep. Jody Barrett, who garnered around 27%. His success […]
Knox County dismisses criminal charges against pro-Palestinian demonstrators at the University of Tennessee
Charges against University of Tennessee students and local residents have been dropped after they completed 100 hours of community service related to their participation in a pro-Palestinian protest last year, as confirmed by the Knox County Attorney’s Office on Friday. In June 2024, eleven individuals were charged with Class C misdemeanor criminal trespassing following a […]
Trump supports Van Epps in Middle Tennessee House race, Reeves withdraws
President Donald Trump endorsed Matt Van Epps just four days ahead of the primary election for the open seat in Tennessee’s 7th Congressional District. Trump referred to Van Epps as a “Maga Warrior,” highlighting his background as a West Point graduate and a decorated Army helicopter pilot. “Matt understands the wisdom and courage required to […]
Tennessee governor follows adjusted guidance from the Attorney General on deploying the Guard.
Gov. Bill Lee expressed his trust in the Tennessee Attorney General’s updated stance regarding the deployment of National Guard troops for police operations in Memphis, even though it contradicts previous legal views outlined in the state constitution. (Photo: John Partipilo/Tennessee Lookout) Tennessee’s Governor Bill Lee stated on Friday that he stands by the Attorney General’s […]
Outside organizations have invested $2.5 million in the Middle Tennessee U.S. House primary.
Political Ads Heat Up Tennessee’s 7th Congressional District Race Matt Van Epps, a former member of the Tennessee service committee, has garnered significant funding for his campaign from the GOP Primary’s Independent Political Action Committee in the 7th Congressional District. This includes hundreds of thousands of dollars aimed at bolstering his presence in the race. […]
Tennessee official claims Attorney General left out and changed views on Guard deployment
Tennessee Democrats have raised concerns about Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti’s changes to legal opinions regarding the National Guard’s deployment, claiming these alterations allow the governor to send troops to Memphis in a way that contradicts the state constitution. In light of Governor Bill Lee’s recent decision to order security personnel to Memphis at former President […]
Chart illustrates the potential impact of Trump’s suggested NOAA budget reductions on Tennessee.
President Donald Trump’s proposed FY26 budget removes funding for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) research department, while redistributing some of its responsibilities to other NOAA divisions. One of the labs in Tennessee examines how increased temperatures and CO2 concentrations impact the ability of forests to sequester carbon. According to a newly released interactive […]
Tennessee focuses on both solar energy and agriculture together, not one or the other.
Solar Farms and Agriculture: A Compatible Pair On August 18, Tennessee Secretary of Agriculture Brook Rollins commented on the relationship between solar farms and agriculture. Despite his remarks, there’s evidence suggesting these two can coexist. My company, Silicon Ranch, set up Tennessee’s first utility-scale solar farm back in 2012. Since that initial step, we’ve teamed […]
Farmers in 59 Tennessee counties can apply for USDA assistance due to Hurricane Helene.
The USDA Farm Services Agency has recognized 59 counties in Tennessee as eligible for emergency livestock relief due to increased feed costs stemming from Hurricane Helen in September 2024. Nearly two-thirds of livestock farmers in these counties faced higher feed expenses because of the flooding caused by the hurricane, making them potential candidates for federal […]
Three candidates invest $1 million of their own money in the Middle Tennessee U.S. Congressional primary
The four Republican candidates will engage in a discussion on September 5th, just a week before early voting kicks off. The candidates are Matt Van Epps, a former commissioner of general services, Rep. Lee Reves, Jody Barrett, and Gino Bruso. Recent financial disclosures show that Republicans Gino Bruso and Lee Reeves, along with Democrat businessman […]