AGP Executive Report

Food Safety: Taylor Farms issued a 27-state recall of bagged shredded iceberg lettuce tied to a cyclosporiasis outbreak, urging shoppers to discard affected lots and noting it also pulled central Mexico-sourced lettuce from the U.S. Public Health & Policy: A separate report argues the outbreak shows what happens when federal health expertise is cut back, pointing to reduced CDC capacity. AI & Data Centers: Meta and Anthropic are reportedly in early talks on a potential $10B AI compute deal, while Tennessee-area data-center politics and power/water concerns continue to flare. Local Industry & Infrastructure: Clarksville Gas and Water scheduled a late-night Wilma Rudolph Boulevard water valve replacement with lane closures. Biotech: 4D Molecular Therapeutics announced positive 2-year PRISM Phase 2b data for its wet AMD gene therapy. Elections & Governance: Hamilton County Commission candidates have raised about $65K since primaries, with Republicans holding larger cash-on-hand totals. Agriculture Politics: Tennessee’s agriculture commissioner faced allegations of pressuring Farm Bureau to back Sen. Marsha Blackburn. Consumer Alert: FDA reported over 700,000 Pillsbury rolls recalled over glass contamination.

Commercial Tire Supply & Jobs: Hankook says its Clarksville, Tennessee plant is key to keeping U.S. fleets stocked with tires built for long-haul wear, traction, and fuel-efficiency. Workforce & Training: TTCC-Hartsville’s first Carpentry Program class graduated 14 inmates, with the curriculum set to expand into other trades. Local Economy Watch: Tennessee’s unemployment rate fell to 3.5% in June, with job gains led by health care, leisure/hospitality, and durable goods manufacturing. Public Health Infrastructure: Greene County’s new Health Department building opens July 20, part of a broader $7.5M project that includes grants and federal ARPA matching funds. Data Center Backlash: Tennessee officials and communities are pausing or tightening data center plans amid concerns over electricity, water, and local impacts, while regulators consider rules. Aviation Zoning: Greeneville’s airport overlay proposal would restrict development near flight paths to protect safety. Education Recognition: UT Martin named spring 2026 Chancellor’s Honor Roll students across multiple colleges. Safety Incident: Two men suffered significant burns while trying to relight a burn pile at a Maury County construction site.

Data Center Governance: Murray City Council held a public hearing on a proposed data center ordinance, with the draft still under review after a much smaller turnout than the earlier Planning Commission session. Public Safety & Regulation: Tennessee law enforcement seized newly-illegal synthetic kratom and high-THC vapes from a Van Buren County liquor store, following recent state bans. AI Infrastructure & Business: Meta is reportedly in talks to rent excess AI computing capacity to Anthropic in a deal that could reach $10 billion over two years, underscoring how Tennessee’s data-center buildout is tied to the broader AI supply chain. Local Industry & Manufacturing: Hankook highlighted its Clarksville, Tennessee tire plant as a way to improve supply stability and tailor products for U.S. commercial fleets. Housing Finance Litigation: Mortgage lenders and tech firms again urged dismissal of a Tennessee federal antitrust-style mortgage price-fixing class action, arguing plaintiffs didn’t properly link software to pricing recommendations. Energy & Costs: GasBuddy reported Tennessee premium gas averaging $4.31 per gallon for the week ending July 11, with Giles County’s lowest reported premium at $3.89.

Permitting & Energy Projects: Trilogy’s Ambler Metals says a coordinated FAST-41 permitting schedule for its Arctic project is now on the federal dashboard, targeting a record of decision in September 2028—an approach that Tennessee has also adopted. Healthcare Costs: Medicaid cuts are already hitting local hospitals, with CBO projecting $911B in federal Medicaid spending reductions over 10 years. Workforce & Manufacturing: Ultium Cells is bringing about 850 temporarily laid-off workers back to its Lordstown battery plant in a phased return expected to finish mid-August. Food Safety: General Mills recalled about 735,840 frozen Pillsbury Bread Rolls dough products sold at Walmart in-store bakeries due to possible glass contamination. Local Public Safety: Memphis Police awarded more than $40,000 in neighborhood crime-prevention grants to 17 groups in Whitehaven. Infrastructure Planning: Cookeville approved the master plan for the 39 Depot project, adding parking, sidewalks, and a promenade tied to the Tennessee Central Trail. Industry & Jobs: Hankook highlighted its Clarksville, Tennessee tire plant as a key part of keeping commercial fleets supplied with U.S.-built products.

Convenience Retail Tech: Tri Star Energy (Twice Daily, Sudden Service, Little General) is consolidating its three branded mobile apps onto the Rovertown platform, keeping existing Paytronix loyalty while adding mobile ordering and more targeted offers. Homelessness & Housing: Cookeville’s Highlands Residential Services won a $600,000 Tennessee Housing Development Agency grant to build Redbud Village, a 20-unit project aimed at people facing homelessness and domestic violence. Public Health: Tennessee confirmed two measles cases; Hamilton County is urging MMR catch-up in under-vaccinated communities. Food Safety: General Mills recalled about 736,000 Pillsbury frozen bread rolls (hard roll and kaiser roll dough) in 19 states, including Tennessee, due to possible glass contamination. Nuclear & Jobs: Oak Ridge-based Standard Nuclear’s NYSE debut followed a downsized IPO, while the broader nuclear supply chain continues to draw investor attention. Local Economy & Industry: Franklin hired a Nashville engineering firm to upgrade aging water infrastructure, targeting pump and tank improvements to support growth and reliability. Workforce & Education: Chattanooga Quantum Collaborative launched TN QuantumWorks, a K–12 quantum career awareness initiative piloted in Hamilton County before statewide expansion. Business & Media: Audio One is expanding the Jay Walker Podcast to four days a week from a new Nashville studio, with a bigger guest lineup.

Agribusiness & Clean Tech: UT’s BRIDGES Engine project just won up to $160M from the NSF to turn perennial grasses like miscanthus and switchgrass into car parts, construction materials, and packaging—aimed at creating jobs and new value for Tennessee and Alabama farms. Energy & Power Demand: Data centers are expected to drive billions in added electricity costs across PJM states, with critics pushing for data-center-specific capacity rules instead of spreading the bill to everyone else. Local Government & Infrastructure: Hamilton County approved a one-year data center moratorium to study zoning, utilities, water use, noise, and environmental impacts before new projects move forward. Workforce & Education: The ACT Summit in Nashville focused on how AI is reshaping testing and workforce readiness as ACT transitions into ETS. Healthcare Data Privacy: Tennessee AGs joined multistate actions tied to the 23andMe genetic data breach, with settlement payouts and consumer relief outlined. Transportation: TDOT scheduled overnight I-65 ramp closures and a rolling roadblock in Davidson County for overhead sign installation. Manufacturing & Jobs: Standard Nuclear’s downsized IPO priced at $15 to raise $150M, highlighting Oak Ridge TRISO fuel production for advanced reactors.

Nuclear Jobs Boost: TRISO-X says it will invest nearly $1B in Oak Ridge, adding about 1,140 jobs tied to a new nuclear fuel facility and R&D center. Data Center Pressure: Residents in Bradley County raised concerns about a potential data center after social media claims; the county says no official proposal is pending and points to zoning limits. Antitrust & Health Data: Tennessee’s AG coalition news continues to ripple as states announce a $29.6M Glenmark settlement over alleged generic drug price manipulation, with more multistate cases ahead. Workforce & Research: HudsonAlpha won an NSF grant to launch a rural bio-economy initiative across Alabama and Tennessee, aiming to turn farmland into new manufacturing opportunities. Logistics & Industry Growth: Wolter acquired Delta Materials Handling, expanding its mid-south forklift and warehouse solutions footprint into Memphis and beyond. Food Safety Watch: As Cyclospora cases climb nationwide, some Memphis restaurants are swapping ingredients out of caution while health officials keep searching for the source. Local Business Moves: Hand & Stone’s biggest franchisee signed for 13 new spa locations, including Tennessee. Energy Market Signals: A Fed “Beige Book” update points to easing inflation and steady growth, with fuel-cost uncertainty still on the radar.

Data Centers & Power: Google and Cypress Creek Energy kicked off construction of Steel River Energy Center in Arkansas, a solar-plus-battery project tied to AI data-center demand, with LG Energy Solution supplying North America-made batteries. Local Governance: In Tennessee, Gallatin leaders discussed a potential data-center moratorium as residents cite noise and flooding impacts near the Meta campus. Manufacturing Jobs: Carlex Glass America will close its Vonore plant in September, permanently laying off 325 workers. Workforce & Innovation: NSF support boosted textile innovation via a Textile Innovation Engine effort, backing research aimed at next-gen materials and supply-chain resilience. Housing Supply: Nashville’s Barnes Housing Trust Fund funding is back in the city budget as advocates push for more affordable units. Politics & Agriculture: Ali Simpson launched a Tennessee House bid focused on sustainable farming and rural hospital pressures, while Marsha Blackburn’s governor primary campaign continues amid debate refusal. Public Safety: Metro approved lower speeds and added controls on Woodmont Lane in Green Hills after neighbors said traffic cut-throughs made the area unsafe.

Data Centers & Power Costs: Tennessee’s data-center boom is driving local moratoriums and rate debates, with TVA urging utilities to rethink pricing so data centers cover the cost of service without shifting bills onto everyone else. Energy & Industry: Google and Cypress Creek broke ground on Steel River Energy Center in Arkansas, a major solar-plus-battery build tied to a power purchase agreement—another signal that grid capacity is becoming a core industrial issue. Healthcare Innovation: A gene-editing therapy has been FDA-approved for young children with sickle cell, and a Nashville patient is already celebrating a major turnaround. Cybersecurity & Consumer Protection: A multistate settlement over the 23andMe genetic data breach secured $18 million for states, including New York’s $18 million deal and new data-protection requirements. Workforce & Business Growth: Generational Group announced the sale of Crownline Boats to Whisper Marine, with Whisper based in Johnson City, Tennessee. Aviation Training: Walnut Ridge’s Pilot’s Ally won FAA authorization as a rare Airframe and Powerplant testing site, expanding regional credential access.

Higher Ed & Housing: The University of Tennessee got state approval to build three new dorms via a public-private partnership, replacing older 1960s halls and adding housing for about 1,569 students, with design work set to start soon. Workforce Training: Tennessee launched the federal Workforce Pell program, expanding Pell Grant eligibility for certain short-term training tied to in-demand, high-skill jobs, with an application portal now open for schools. Logistics & Retail Tech: Walmart delivery workers say a new Spark app feature is rerouting pickups by tracking their in-store location, increasing back-and-forth and potentially slowing deliveries. Energy & Research: UT professor Yilu Liu won the Global Energy Prize 2026 for smart-grid monitoring/control work, while other laureates were recognized for clean hydrogen and energy conversion advances. Healthcare Supply Chain: FedEx created FedEx Life Sciences, a dedicated unit for time-sensitive pharma and clinical trial logistics, with a leadership team and global life sciences centers including Memphis. Local Business/PR: Nashville agency BRND House founder Hannah Schneider has departed the company after its 2023 sale, signaling a new chapter for the hospitality-focused marketing shop. Workforce & Community: Tennessee’s data-center pressure continues as Morgan County voted to pause AI data centers for two years to study water impacts.

Data Centers & Water: Google’s Nebraska data centers reportedly used ~732 million gallons of water in 2025, reigniting debate over AI-driven power and water demand as drought strains local supplies. Public Safety & Roads: Florida launched its 9th annual Operation Southern Slow Down (July 13–18) with Southeast partners including Tennessee, targeting speed-related crashes through enforcement and outreach. Healthcare Compliance: A new push to clean up medical credit balances is gaining momentum, with Tennessee cited in penalties tied to failure to refund patient overpayments. Consumer Protection: Tennessee AG Jonathan Skrmetti announced a $45M multistate settlement with Block over Cash App deceptive practices, with Tennessee receiving about $737K. Food Industry: The first lawsuit was filed against Publix over recalled GreenWise frozen blueberries tied to an E. coli outbreak. Workforce Training: Café Hope in Gretna received a $10,000 Jacques Pépin Foundation grant to expand paid culinary training for young adults. Local Business & Growth: Johnson Architecture will partner on Pigeon Forge’s Play District: Powered by Hasbro, a ~50,000-square-foot attraction slated to open in summer 2027.

Engineering & Aviation Education: UTA and Tennessee Tech students competed in UTA’s 10th annual 3D Printed Aircraft Competition, testing rotary- and fixed-wing designs built as capstone-style engineering projects. Music & Local Production: Brad Paisley and Miranda Lambert released “Someone Else’s Arms,” recorded at The Castle in Franklin, Tennessee, as part of Paisley’s ongoing “Tacklebox” rollout. Workforce Reality Check: A new report-style look at hiring says the problem isn’t just AI—U.S. employers face a projected, broad labor shortage that’s hitting entry-level pipelines. Environmental Science: A Tennessee-led study finds buoyant microplastics can sink through farm soil via rainfall or irrigation, with UV and humic acid speeding movement—raising groundwater protection stakes. Public Safety & Infrastructure: Clarksville Gas and Water scheduled multiple water outages for meter replacement and main leak repairs, including Cumberland Manor Apartments and King/Church Street areas. Energy & Data Costs: OpenAI, Meta and SpaceXAI are pushing cheaper enterprise AI by improving efficiency and reducing what companies spend to get results. Sports Business: Memphis Hustle’s Nate Hinton signed with the Brisbane Bullets as they chase an NBL playoff return. Health & Facilities: Tennessee-based HCA Healthcare is investing heavily in hospital upgrades, including major capital projects tied to rising labor and operating costs.

MLB Draft (Tennessee sports): The 2026 MLB Draft is in full swing with Day 2 rounds 5-20 after the White Sox opened Day 1 with Roch Cholowsky No. 1, setting up a busy weekend for teams’ mid-to-late picks. Local Utilities: Clarksville Gas and Water shut off water on Old Ashland City Road for a water main leak repair, with service expected back by about 9 p.m. Music & Nashville business: The Country Music Association named Brittany Schaffer as its new CEO, moving from Belmont University to lead the organization starting Jan. 1, 2027. Hospitality with a mission: A Nashville hotel stay at The Gallatin Hotel directly funds meals, showers, and shelter beds for unhoused neighbors. Workforce & hiring: A new report argues recruiters and new grads are stuck in a broader labor shortage problem—not just AI. Public health: A CDC-linked surge in kratom poisonings is driving renewed scrutiny after a Memphis Grizzlies player’s death drew attention to the substance. Industry & manufacturing: Toyota plans to shift more Tacoma production to Texas, while automakers overall remain cautious about reshoring. Energy/tech infrastructure: Tennessee’s data center debate keeps heating up as lawmakers and communities push back over power demand and local impacts.

MLB Draft (Tennessee ties): The 2026 MLB Draft is underway, with the White Sox taking UCLA’s Roch Cholowsky No. 1 and the Cardinals selecting Georgia high school star Trevor Condon at No. 13—another reminder of how quickly elite talent pipelines feed pro baseball. Workforce & education: Vanderbilt University signed an MOU guaranteeing a Master of Nursing pathway for Maryville College students, tightening the route from liberal arts to clinical training. Manufacturing & engineering (STEM): Missouri S&T’s Concrete Canoe team placed second at the ASCE Civil Engineering Student Championship, showing how Tennessee-area engineering programs keep producing real-world builders. Sports & community: Memphis hosted the Ed Murphey Classic, a nonprofit track meet putting Beale Street speed on display while funding local youth athletics. Public safety: A Southeast speed-crash crackdown campaign is set to run July 13–18, with Tennessee included in the multi-state push to slow drivers. Tech & schools: West Memphis Schools will roll out a ninth-grade technology and AI pilot with Google and Code Crew, aiming to build future-ready skills.

Subsea Engineering & Research: DEEP installed its Vanguard subsea human habitat on the seafloor at Tennessee Reef in the Florida Keys, a first-of-its-kind open-ocean habitat in decades, with sea acceptance testing and commissioning now underway. Tennessee Tourism & Trust: The Tennessee Department of Tourist Development launched “It’s Real,” a campaign to help travelers spot AI-generated photos on TNVacation.com, using content credentials and secure metadata. Local Governance & Schools: Hamilton County Mayor Weston Wamp says he’s running for a second term to finish major school construction and wrap up long-term county projects. Public Safety & Consumer Protection: The BBB warned Tennesseans about AI-powered utility scams that impersonate electric, gas, water, cable, and internet providers using urgency tactics. Infrastructure Updates: TDOT issued a Montgomery County roadwork plan with lane closures and utility work starting mid-July, urging drivers to slow down and plan extra travel time. Manufacturing Jobs: Jabil’s Marshall County expansion is tied to a major investment and thousands of new jobs, keeping Tennessee’s industrial growth in focus.

Data Center Fight in Nashville: Residents are pressing back hard against DC BLOX’s proposed “Colossus 1” AI data center near the Nashville Zoo, after hundreds packed a Metro Council meeting and lawmakers moved toward new restrictions; the mayor called DC BLOX’s “collaborative” claims “inaccurate.” Local Utilities & Infrastructure: Clarksville Gas and Water scheduled a Hawkins Road water outage for July 14 for valve replacement, with possible low pressure nearby. Jobs & Layoffs: Shelby County WARN notices show layoffs jumped 341% in the first half of 2026, with major cuts tied to companies including Nike, GXO, Ikea and WK Kellogg. Food Safety Recall: Aldi recalled frozen kimchi & tofu kimbap sold in Tennessee due to undeclared fish (tuna) allergy risk. Public Media Deal: DIRECTV and Scripps ended a retransmission blackout, restoring 54 local stations in markets including Nashville. Manufacturing Shock: Carlex plans to close a manufacturing plant in Vonore, putting 300+ jobs at risk. Local Business/Consumer: A Greeneville home dealership co-owner was arrested out of state, and Tennessee officials say they’re investigating.