Cassandra Stephenson

Jack Daniel’s is ending a program that helped farmers feed cows with its scraps. What happens now? • Tennessee Lookout Jack Daniel’s is terminating a program that provided the company’s corn byproduct “slop” to local cattle farmers at low or no cost.

Jack Daniel’s is terminating a decades-long program that provided the company’s corn byproduct “slop” to local cattle farmers at low or no cost, allowing the farmers to inexpensively feed their cattle -- a change that has left Moore County farmers reeling. From @cstephenson.bsky.social.

Tennessee has set execution dates for four people, including Christa Pike, the lone woman on death row. If Pike is put to death, she would be the first woman executed in Tennessee in more than 200 years.

Tennessee National Guard set for Memphis deployment next week • Tennessee Lookout Tennessee National Guard troops as part of a crime-fighting effort in Memphis won't carry weapons unless asked by police, said Gov. Bill Lee.

Tennessee National Guard, federal law enforcement and increased presence of state troopers coming to Memphis next week, making it the third city in the country to see this kind of surge under the Trump administration

tennesseelookout.com/2025/09/26/t... @tennesseelookout.com

Report: Tennessee keeps high rank in projected EV jobs amid industry uncertainty • Tennessee Lookout Tennessee remains among the nation’s top four states for highest number of anticipated electric vehicle manufacturing jobs.

Tennessee still ranks high in projected EV jobs amid industry uncertainty. That's thanks to 5800 jobs promised in rural Tennessee by Ford Motor Company, which has now delayed its EV plant opening until 2028
@cstephenson.bsky.social

tennesseelookout.com/2025/09/24/r... @tennesseelookout.com

Former Tennessee House speaker sentenced to three years in federal prison • Tennessee Lookout Six years after being bounced from the Tennessee House speakership, former Rep. Glen Casada was sentenced Tuesday to 36 months in prison for his role in a kickback scheme. U.S. District Judge Eli Rich...

Former Tennessee Republican House Speaker gets 3y in federal prison, $30k fine in scheme to profit from legislature's postage/printing fund

A former aide was sentenced to 30 months last week. Ex Rep. Robin Smith to be sentenced next month
tennesseelookout.com/2025/09/23/f... @tennesseelookout.com

Study: Cumberland River pipeline to Maury, Williamson counties could cost $2B • Tennessee Lookout A pipeline supplying water from the Cumberland River to Maury and Williamson counties is feasible, but could cost up to $1.9 billion.

A pipeline supplying water from the Cumberland River to the fast-growing Maury and Williamson counties is feasible, but it could cost up to $1.9 billion in 2025 dollars, according to a feasibility study released this week by the Mallory Valley Utility District. From @cstephenson.bsky.social.

Stockard on the Stump: Tennessee House speaker wants “strike force” to hit Memphis gangs • Tennessee Lookout Tennessee House Speaker Cameron Sexton is calling for federal and state troops to be deployed to Memphis as a "strike force."

Tennessee House Speaker wants state to activate an anti-gang “strike force" working w National Guard to target gang activity in Memphis.

He said U.S. attorney could prosecute, bypassing local DA, considered soft on crime by Republicans
tennesseelookout.com/2025/09/12/s... @tennesseelookout.com

TN Wildlife Agency to purchase 7.5K acres of huntable wetlands along Hatchie River • Tennessee Lookout The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency may buy about 7,500 acres of land along the Hatchie River for conservation and outdoor recreation.

In a win for wetlands conservation, the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency is potentially a few months away from purchasing about 7,500 acres of land along the Hatchie River for conservation and outdoor recreation. @cstephenson.bsky.social reports.

Memphis legal nonprofit, clergy look to create immigration court watch program • Tennessee Lookout Father Juan Antonio “Tony” Romo of Memphis has organized a group of priests to attend immigration court proceedings and bear witness.

As federal prosecutors push harder for swift deportations and accounts of immigration officers arresting people at court hearings circulate, a Memphis-based legal nonprofit and clergy members are working together to ensure these events don’t go unwitnessed. From @cstephenson.bsky.social.

Memphis legal nonprofit, clergy look to create immigration court watch program • Tennessee Lookout Father Juan Antonio “Tony” Romo of Memphis has organized a group of priests to attend immigration court proceedings and bear witness.

Memphis legal nonprofit and local clergy are putting together an immigration court watch program as federal government sends immigration agents to detain those showing up for routine immigration hearings

tennesseelookout.com/2025/09/08/m... @cstephenson.bsky.social @tennesseelookout.com

Trump administration moves closer to ending protections for 58M acres of national forests • Tennessee Lookout The Trump administration is proceeding with a plan to open up 85,000 acres of Tennessee forests for development.

Trump administration moves rapidly closer to ending protections for 58M acres of national forests, including 85,000 in Tennessee - announcing an abbreviated public comment period before the rule allowing logging, mining takes effect

tennesseelookout.com/briefs/trump... @tennesseelookout.com

Drinking water tech tested on Amy Grant’s farm now used for disaster relief, climate resilience • Tennessee Lookout Altitude Water, which makes clean drinking water climate-resilient and accessible during disasters, tested their product at Amy Grant’s farm.

A company looking to make clean drinking water more climate-resilient and accessible during disasters found an ideal testing ground in an unlikely place: singer-songwriter Amy Grant’s Williamson County farm. From @cstephenson.bsky.social,

Orgs plan to sue Wilson Co. wastewater authority over drainage into Cumberland tributary • Tennessee Lookout The Southern Environmental Law Center plans to sue Wilson County’s wastewater authority over a Mount Juliet facility that pollutes water.

Pools covered in “mats of algae and slimes,” a state inspector described a Mt. Juliet wastewater area in a neighborhood. @cstephenson.bsky.social reports environmental groups plan to sue Wilson County's wastewater authority over discharge of polluted water.

USDA invests $89M, mostly in loans, to improve rural Tennessee utilities • Tennessee Lookout The U.S. Department of Agriculture invested $89 million to rural Tennessee communities to support improvements to electric utilities.

USDA invests $89M, mostly in loans, to improve rural Tennessee utilities tennesseelookout.com/briefs/usda-... @cstephenson.bsky.social

Trump creates 'quick reaction force' out of state Guard troops for law enforcement • Tennessee Lookout President Donald Trump signed an executive order directing state National Guard to be ready to assist local, state and federal law enforcement.

Trump creates ‘quick reaction force’ out of state Guard troops for law enforcement tennesseelookout.com/2025/08/25/r... @fischler.bsky.social @tennesseelookout.com

Kilmar Abrego Garcia released from custody in Tennessee • Tennessee Lookout Kilmar Abrego Garcia, whose wrongful deportation to a prison in El Salvador brought widespread public scrutiny of the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown tactics, was released from a rural…

Kilmar Abrego Garcia was released today pending trial on human smuggling charges in Tennessee. His wrongful deportation to a Salvadoran prison brought scrutiny of the Trump administration's immigration crackdown tactics. @anitawadhwani.bsky.social reports:

West Tennessee Megasite Authority adopts stronger zoning protections for Memphis Aquifer • Tennessee Lookout The board controlling the West Tennessee Megasite — home to Ford’s BlueOval City electric vehicle and battery manufacturing campus — unanimously approved zoning rules Wednesday that require greater pr...

The board controlling the West Tennessee Megasite — home to Ford’s BlueOval City electric vehicle campus — unanimously approved zoning rules that require more protections for Memphis Sand Aquifer, the region’s drinking water source.

tennesseelookout.com/2025/07/24/w... @cstephenson.bsky.social

Tennessee, local governments will forgo sales taxes on $4.5B nuclear facility • Tennessee Lookout Tennessee officials hailed a uranium enrichment facility deal for East Tennessee in 2024 but months later exempted the project from sales taxes, forcing local governments to forgo untold revenue from…

Tennessee, local governments will forgo sales taxes on $4.5B nuclear facility coming to Oak Ridge, Tenn. after lawmakers carved out exceptions earlier this year, catching Oak Ridge/Anderson Co officials by surprise

tennesseelookout.com/2025/07/23/t...

South Memphis neighborhood to shape plan to protect Memphis Aquifer drinking water • Tennessee Lookout Residents of a South Memphis neighborhood will soon embark on a first-of-its-kind project to craft a protection plan for the drinking water stored in the earth beneath them. The Memphis Sand Aquifer…

South Memphis neighborhood to shape plan to protect Memphis Aquifer drinking water tennesseelookout.com/briefs/south... @cstephenson.bsky.social

38109 residents asked how to spend money from xAI tax payments The city is asking community members how it should spend the tax money Mayor Paul Young wants set aside for neighborhoods within a five-mile radius of

Memphis is asking community members how it should spend the tax money Mayor Paul Young wants set aside for neighborhoods within a five-mile radius of Elon Musk's xAI’s two local facilities.
mlk50.com/2025/07/18/3... @mlk50.com

Selmer begins to clear tons of debris from deadly tornado • Tennessee Lookout Months after a tornado destroyed more than 100 buildings in Selmer, Tennessee, the city is now removing piles of debris from the storm’s scar.

Three and a half months after a tornado destroyed more than 100 buildings in Selmer, Tennessee, the city is now removing piles of debris from the storm’s scar. As @cstephenson.bsky.social reports, it's not an easy process to clear so much wood, vinyl flooring, carpet and even material with asbestos.

Tennessee family seeks help for adopted son, though the state may return him to foster care instead • Tennessee Lookout A Tennessee family seeks help for their adopted son, though the Department of Children's Services may return him to foster care instead.

A Tennessee family adopted a child from the state's foster care system. Now, state agencies are denying care to the child for ongoing mental health treatment -- in part from trauma he incurred in foster care -- and may return the child to the Department of Children's Services to be in state care.

Nashville LGBTQ+ community leaders decry layoffs at VUMC office supporting access to care • Tennessee Lookout Vanderbilt University Medical Center laid off the staff of its LGBTQ Health Program in late June, closing a resource for LGBTQ+ people.

Nashville LGBTQ+ community leaders decry layoffs at VUMC office supporting access to care tennesseelookout.com/2025/07/08/l... @cstephenson.bsky.social @tnequality.bsky.social

FEMA approves $1.8M in aid for Tennesseans affected by April storms; Applications ongoing • Tennessee Lookout The Federal Emergency Management Agency has approved more than $1.8 million in aid for individual Tennesseans affected by April severe storms.

FEMA approves $1.8M in aid for Tennesseans affected by April storms; Applications ongoing tennesseelookout.com/2025/07/03/f... @cstephenson.bsky.social @tennesseelookout.com

In a reversal, judge keeps Kilmar Abrego in jail over deportation concerns • Tennessee Lookout Kilmar Abrego Garcia will remain n jail at the request of his own attorneys, who cited conflicting positions taken by the government.

Kilmar Abrego Garcia will remain temporarily in jail at the request of his own attorneys, who cited conflicting positions taken by the government over whether he is at risk for immediate deportation. @anitawadhwani.bsky.social reports.

ICE rushed no-bid contract to pay CoreCivic $4.2M per month to hold immigrants at Kansas prison • Kansas Reflector U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement used the pretense of a national emergency to justify a secret, no-bid contract with CoreCivic that would pay the company $4.2 million per month to house detain...

ICE used the pretense of a national emergency to justify a secret, no-bid contract with CoreCivic that would pay the company $4.2 million per month to house detained immigrants at its vacant Leavenworth prison #ksleg kansasreflector.com/2025/07/01/i...

Vanderbilt University Medical Center grant cuts may include faculty, research diversity initiatives • Tennessee Lookout Federal grant cuts to Vanderbilt University Medical Center could include funding for programs meant to improve diversity in medical research.

Vanderbilt University Medical Center grant cuts may include faculty, research diversity initiatives tennesseelookout.com/2025/06/30/v... @cstephenson.bsky.social @tennesseelookout.com

ACLU sues Tennessee over law criminalizing elected officials’ votes for ‘sanctuary policies’ • Tennessee Lookout The American Civil Liberties Union of Tennessee is suing the state over a law creating a felony for elected officials to vote for sanctuary policies.

ACLU sues Tennessee on behalf of 7 members of the Nashville Metro Council over new law making it a felony for any elected official to vote in favor of immigrant ‘sanctuary policies’
tennesseelookout.com/2025/06/24/a... @cstephenson.bsky.social @tennesseelookout.com

Trump approves FEMA aid for some Tennessee counties as state disaster costs mount

tennesseelookout.com/2025/06/24/t... @cstephenson.bsky.social @tennesseelookout.com