AGP Executive Report

Nuclear Diplomacy in Tennessee: Reports say Trump envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner quietly consulted nuclear experts at Oak Ridge’s national lab as Iran talks enter a critical phase, with officials saying the meeting signals serious momentum even if a deal isn’t guaranteed. Energy Tech Milestone: The U.S. Energy Department says a small advanced reactor at Idaho National Lab reached “criticality,” a step toward generating electricity in the next few years. Local Food Spotlight: East Nashville’s Sho Pizza Bar earned a Michelin Bib Gourmand and landed at No. 30 on the “50 Top Pizza USA 2026” list. Transportation & Logistics Watch: A freight industry report flags shrinking truckload haul lengths since 2024, suggesting shippers are changing how they use capacity. Aviation Connectivity: Southwest is reportedly adding nine new nonstop routes in 2027, including seasonal service from Nashville to Liberia. Fuel Prices in Tennessee: GasBuddy data shows Tennessee premium prices averaging about $4.95 per gallon in the week ending May 30, with county-level lows reported across the state.

Gas Prices Watch (Tennessee): In the week ending May 30, Tennessee drivers saw premium prices average $4.95 per gallon (down week-over-week), with Knox County’s lowest premium at $3.16 and Bradley County’s low at $4.59; regular averaged $4.08 (down), with Jefferson County’s low at $3.85 and Dickson County’s at $3.77; diesel averaged $5.10 (down), with Warren County’s low at $4.99 and Rhea County’s at $4.82; midgrade averaged $4.56 (down), with Campbell County’s low at $4.22 and Dickson County’s at $4.21; E85 averaged $3.56 (down), with Cheatham County’s low at $3.75 and Anderson County’s at $3.79. Energy Market Drivers: Coverage points to ongoing volatility tied to global oil moves, Middle East tensions, refinery outages, and shipping risks near the Strait of Hormuz. Defense & Energy Geopolitics: A fresh U.S.-Iran escalation around the Strait of Hormuz raised concerns for regional maritime traffic and energy supply routes. Local Community: Chattanooga-area preservation advocates pushed for protection of Turkey Foot Hollow (Shot Hollow) and Johnson Cemetery. Sports/Local Interest: Four-star TE Malik Howard chose Tennessee over Oregon, Notre Dame, and Alabama.

Coal Power Push: President Trump says the Defense Production Act will fund $700M to modernize and extend coal plants, including projects tied to Tennessee among other states. AI + Life Sciences: GATC Health’s Morgantown lab says its AI-driven drug for opioid use disorder is moving toward human trials after early results published in PNAS. Data Centers vs. Local Industry: Nashville Zoo is fighting a proposed data center next door, warning noise could disrupt animals; the zoo’s petition has surged. Tech Compute Deal With Tennessee Link: SpaceX is set to get $920M/month from Google for AI cloud compute, and a similar deal already points to its Colossus facility in Memphis. Local Business Shakeup: Hollywood Feed is laying off 20 corporate staff in Memphis, citing economic pressure on the pet industry. Workforce & Training: NextGen Supply Chain Conference 2026 in Nashville adds Eli Lilly’s Mar Gimeno to the keynote lineup. Energy Infrastructure & Parks: Type One Energy’s fusion testbed company is donating to help Anderson County build a new Claxton community park.

Healthcare & Billing: Nashville-based Clear Dental Billing launched outsourced dental billing for independent practices and DSOs, offering insurance verification, claims submission, payment posting, denial management, patient statements, and aged AR cleanup. AI & Local Government: Memphis City Council will review recommendations for allocating AI-related public use funds, with priorities including home weatherization, community health, public safety, and workforce development. Data Centers & Community Impact: Nashville Zoo is opposing a proposed data center next door, launching a petition and citing missing environmental studies plus concerns about water, energy use, and effects on animals and visitors. Tech Investment in Tennessee: HST Pathways (ASC software) added a strategic growth investment from Novo Holdings to accelerate its AI-enabled roadmap and automation for ambulatory surgery centers. Energy & Costs: Tennessee’s diesel prices stayed volatile in the week ending May 30, with county-level lows reported as low as $4.37 in Hamilton County and $4.19 in Bradley County, while the state average remained around $5.10. Policy & Immigration: Tennessee’s new remittance tax on money transmitters takes effect Jan. 1, 2027, adding costs to cross-border payments as lawmakers frame it as revenue capture amid broader immigration enforcement pressure.

Major Gifts for Tennessee Higher Ed: The Haslams pledged a record $130M to the University of Tennessee, with $100M earmarked for the Haslam College of Business and $30M for faculty recruitment; Virginia Tech also landed a $75M anonymous gift. AI Infrastructure Clash in Nashville: A petition is surging against a proposed data center next to the Nashville Zoo, with residents citing risks to wildlife and local resources as AI-driven buildouts accelerate. Energy Policy Push: Trump announced a $700M coal support package using emergency authorities, aiming to keep plants running and expand mines and export capacity—explicitly including Tennessee. Local Business & Construction Pressure: Whitehaven owners say years of Elvis Presley Boulevard work are hurting access and investment, while Florence, Cookeville, and Lebanon weigh budget and renovation decisions tied to city facilities. Manufacturing/Quality Tech: F. D. Hurka Metrology warned that common setup mistakes can throw off vision measurement accuracy in precision manufacturing. Food Safety Watch: Memphis-area health department updates added new perfect-score restaurants and mobile units.

Energy & Industry Policy: The White House says it will use the Defense Production Act to push $700 million into coal plants and a new export terminal, including funding that could reach Tennessee sites. Data Centers vs. Local Assets: The Nashville Zoo is opposing a proposed AI data center next door, citing missing environmental impact studies and concerns over energy, water, noise/light, and impacts to sensitive species. Industrial Real Estate Demand: Colliers reports occupiers are increasingly choosing sites with reliable power and faster utility timelines as data centers and energy-intensive industries grow. Healthcare Expansion: RadX (with Kain Capital) plans to expand its multistate outpatient imaging network, including Tennessee. Education & Workforce: UT announced a $130M Haslam gift to strengthen the Haslam College of Business and faculty recruitment, while UT/TVA’s Garden Buzz pollinator events and ORNL’s June 9 AI-for-earth-systems talk highlight Tennessee’s science pipeline. Local Business: Five Below opens in Paris June 5 with a grand-opening weekend.

Higher Ed Costs: MTSU is inviting online public comment on proposed 2026-27 tuition and fees increases—about 4.29% tuition and 5.27% fees—with the Board of Trustees set to consider the plan June 16. Logistics & Jobs: Averitt plans a $113 million regional campus in Kentucky, expanding distribution and training capacity tied to the company’s broader Tennessee-linked operations. Energy Storage Push: Ford is reshaping its battery strategy after the SK On venture unwind, repurposing Tennessee assets for energy storage systems and leaning on CATL tech as AI data centers drive demand. AI Compliance: A Tennessee federal judge sanctioned a Memphis law firm for AI misuse in a Baker Donelson malpractice case, ordering cost reimbursement and reporting to disciplinary authorities. Data Center Backlash: Cedar Hill, Tenn. approved a two-year moratorium on data centers amid rural land and air-quality concerns. Food Safety Watch: FDA is investigating new listeria and cyclospora outbreaks, plus additional salmonella cases tied to moringa supplements. Construction Update: Titans’ new Nissan Stadium remains on track for Feb. 2027 completion, with roof work progressing toward enclosed status in late 2026.

Antitrust & Food Costs: The Justice Department and Tennessee AGs say Agri Stats illegally shared sensitive info among meat processors, and a settlement bars the practice—highlighting how consolidation can squeeze competition and push grocery prices higher. AI Governance: Tennessee AG Jonathan Skrmetti warns on the RegulatingAI podcast that AI needs balanced rules—especially for children—without freezing innovation, while the White House issues a new executive order to vet advanced AI for national security risks before release. Energy & Defense Manufacturing: Lockheed Martin opened Missile Assembly Building 5 at Courtland Airport to produce the Next Generation Interceptor for the Missile Defense Agency, aiming to speed output with digital engineering and modern manufacturing. Hospitality & Local Business: Hilton Garden Inn Nashville Downtown/Convention Center named Chef Nicholas Franklin to lead its culinary program, as Nashville’s meetings and tourism demand keeps growing. Agriculture Leadership: GreenPoint Ag in Decatur named Amy Winstead its new CEO, tapping her retail and operational leadership across the Southeast. Workforce & Community Health: UTC’s Journey Health Foundation REACH Fund is already backing 10 community health projects across Southeast Tennessee, from emergency response equity to preventive pediatric access. Data Centers Debate: Little Rock approved data center regulations after a long meeting, while residents and groups elsewhere keep pushing back over environmental and community impacts.

Energy & Costs: AAA says Tennessee gas prices fell 21 cents to an average of $3.93, tied to lower crude oil after Iran peace-talk reports, though prices may stay elevated for summer driving. Public Safety & Health: A new opioid class called “orphines” is linked to overdose deaths, with experts warning they’re far more potent than fentanyl and may require multiple naloxone doses. Local Infrastructure: Memphis residents vent about the long-delayed Elvis Presley Blvd. redesign; TDOT says funding is secured, with work near Graceland on track for 2027 completion and the full project stretching to 2031. Energy Efficiency: TVA’s School Uplift program awarded $350,000 to Tennessee Valley schools in the Mississippi region for energy and classroom upgrades aimed at cutting power bills. Industry & Jobs: Tennessee Connections Academy held graduation for 336 students statewide, including Campbell County’s Jacob White, highlighting workforce and college pathways. Business/Auto: Nissan recalled 51,598 2025-26 Kicks SUVs for a software defect that can blank dashboard displays.

Higher Ed Costs: Tennessee Tech is set to consider a tuition and mandatory fee increase for 2026-27, including a 4.3% bump to undergraduate maintenance fees and higher part-time and graduate rates. Food Supply Chain: What Chefs Want, a wholesale food distributor with roots in specialty produce and cold storage, is expanding distribution facilities to keep up with demand. Wellness Franchising: MassageLuXe is targeting Nashville for multi-unit growth, betting on rising demand for membership-based self-care. Energy & Data Centers: TVA is pushing a new rate classification for high-consumption data centers as communities debate impacts and costs. Construction & Local Infrastructure: East Tennessee drivers are raising safety concerns about slow highway merges, while a bridge replacement in Sequatchie County is set to close a road for months starting this summer. Public Policy & Regulation: Tennessee’s hemp-derived THC products face a July 1 cutoff, with kratom and other items also in the spotlight. Local Business & Jobs: Tennessee’s Music City Expo (NIRVC) continues near Nashville, highlighting RV manufacturing and dealer offerings.

NFL Trade Impact: The Eagles officially traded A.J. Brown to the Patriots for a 2028 first-round pick and a 2027 fifth-rounder, giving New England a clear No. 1 target for Drake Maye. Healthcare Construction: Johnson City Medical Center is expanding its emergency department with a $72 million project adding capacity and new tech for pediatric, adult, and trauma care. Wastewater & Public Works: Chattanooga says major upgrades at the Moccasin Bend Environmental Campus are underway to cut sewage odors by improving digesters and handling heavy rainfall. Local Infrastructure: Memphis is pushing forward with the multi-phase Elvis Presley Boulevard Improvement Project, including drainage, sidewalks, utilities, and reconstruction, with work focused near Graceland through 2027. Energy/Utilities: TVA announced school energy upgrades aimed at reducing power bills. Tech & Regulation: Tennessee’s fusion regulations start June 9, while the state also finalizes rules ahead of a July 1 hemp THC ban. Public Safety Tech: Wilson County-Tennessee State Fair is rolling out a large public Wi‑Fi network for the August 13–22 run. Wildlife Monitoring: TWRA’s 2026 wild turkey summer observation survey is open through Aug. 31.

Nuclear Policy: Tennessee becomes the first state to set its own technology-neutral rules for nuclear fusion machines, with a new licensing framework taking effect June 9. Energy & Utilities: A Tennessee law aimed at protecting ratepayers from data-center-driven utility cost hikes is now in effect after Gov. Bill Lee signed HB 1847. Manufacturing & Logistics: ORNL researchers say they’ve built an automated system to catch and correct 3D-printing errors in real time for large composite parts, aiming to cut defects and waste. Industrial Growth: Siskin Steel & Supply expands its Nashville plant by 100,000 square feet, adding capacity and up to 20 jobs. Retail & Hardware: Tractor Supply rolls out SKIL Power Tools and resets its electrical aisle to help customers tackle more DIY and maintenance projects. Public Wi-Fi for Agriculture: Wilson County-Tennessee State Fair gets a major Wi-Fi upgrade—80 access points built for 60,000 simultaneous connections. Workforce & Business: FedEx Freight’s spin-off is now officially trading as FDXF on the NYSE. Health Tech Oversight: A Tennessee hospital case alleges AI medication-monitoring software failed to flag a nurse’s fentanyl theft for months. Agriculture: TWRA launches its 2026 wild turkey summer observation survey through Aug. 31.

AI & Music in Tennessee: A London songwriter says Parkinson’s pushed him to use AI music tools for demos, reigniting the debate over creativity and copyright in the music industry. Chattanooga Hospitality & Retail: Chattanooga’s hospitality leaders say the real hiring challenge is people skills, while downtown retail is rebounding with new openings after a slower stretch. Manufacturing & Energy Demand: Chattanooga manufacturers are leaning into metals and food production, with one shop pointing to nuclear buildout and data-center power needs as drivers of expansion. Tech & Utilities: EPB is pitching Chattanooga as a quantum-ready hub, using advanced tech to modernize the grid and strengthen its fiber network. Poultry Processing Growth: A Tyson veteran’s $200M-scale poultry processor story highlights how experienced operators are building niche processing capacity. Data Centers vs. Residents: Little Rock’s proposed data center rules face pushback from an environmental panel, while Tennessee’s own hemp rules tighten starting July 1. Nuclear Small Reactors Watch: Coverage continues on SMR momentum and investor interest, with Tennessee-linked power and AI demand in the background. Sports & Local Business Pulse: NASCAR at Nashville delivered full results, and travel-cost pressure hasn’t stopped many Tennesseans from planning summer trips.

Healthcare Expansion: Ascension Saint Thomas won state approval to build Fairview’s first freestanding Emergency Department, a $20.6M project aimed at bringing hospital-level ER care and physician-led outpatient services closer to a community whose population has surged 36% since 2010. Medical Innovation: Vanderbilt urologic surgeon Sam Chang highlights a first-in-human robotic approach for bladder tumor resection led by Jeremy Teoh, focused on improving en-bloc removal quality. Nashville Business & Travel: AAA reports half of Tennesseans still plan summer trips despite higher costs, with travelers shifting toward closer destinations and more fuel budgeting. Energy & Data Centers: Utah’s governor issued new standards for data center development after a massive hyperscale proposal sparked protests—another sign regulators are tightening the rules as power demand grows. NASCAR (Music City): NASCAR returns to Nashville for the Cracker Barrel 400 with Kyle Busch’s death prompting tributes, while Denny Hamlin is set as pole and pre-race favorite. Local Economy/Community: A St. George Island bar reopens as Sand Bar Kitchen + Tavern, keeping the laid-back spirit while refreshing the menu and space.

NASCAR in Tennessee: Nashville Superspeedway hosts a full weekend of racing, with the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series Sports Illustrated Resorts 250 set for Saturday (6:30 p.m. CT, CW) and the Cup Series Cracker Barrel 400 on Sunday (6 p.m. CT, Amazon Prime), as tributes continue after Kyle Busch’s death. Softball spotlight: Tennessee’s Elsa Morrison made a splash in the Women’s College World Series, hitting a three-run homer in her debut, while Mississippi State coach Samantha Ricketts says WCWS experience will help the Bulldogs reload for next season. Food & local culture: A Nashville hot chicken sliders recipe is making the rounds, turning the city’s signature heat into party-friendly mini sandwiches. Tech & jobs: TVA is weighing rate changes tied to AI data centers, as states nationwide debate how to handle power, water, and utility costs from the boom. Energy & industry: EV battery plant layoffs continue to ripple, with Ultium delays extending into August. Agriculture: China has lifted HPAI-related poultry import restrictions for 17 U.S. states, potentially boosting U.S. chicken exports.

EV Battery & Jobs: GM-LG’s Ultium Cells plant in Ohio is pushing back the return of laid-off workers to August, citing weak EV demand—an echo of how Tennessee’s auto supply chain is still feeling the EV slowdown. AI Power Demand: TVA is considering a new rate classification for AI data centers, warning the data-center share of industrial load is rising fast and pushing local utilities to help shape the burden. Agriculture Crime: Two Tennessee men face charges in a $114K cattle theft scheme involving 94 head allegedly sold without permission. Public Health & Food Safety: After FOX13’s rat probe, Tennessee ordered a Memphis convenience store to discard contaminated chips. Local Safety & Policing: Memphis Police say they’ve cleared 82% of homicides this year, with FOX13 noting “cleared” can mean warrants, arrests, or indictments. Research & Health: UT researchers report a tick protein that could help block disease transmission, part of ongoing vector-borne disease work. Infrastructure: TVA and other utilities aren’t the only grid story—TVA’s rate talks come as Tennessee communities also weigh long-term planning and maintenance needs.