AGP Executive Report

Capital Markets & Housing: U.S. home-flipping profits kept sliding in Q2 as investors completed more flips but earned smaller returns, with typical gross profit down to about $60,526 and returns narrowing to 21.5%. Energy & Industry: Ultium’s battery push continues in Tennessee, with reports of major investment and job growth tied to EV battery production. Local Business & Growth: Express Oil Change & Tire Engineers opened a new Greeneville location, expanding quick-service auto maintenance and tire offerings. Health & Workforce: Goodlabs and Blood Assurance expanded free blood testing to additional Tennessee donor centers, aiming to boost access to health panels for donors. Public Policy & Legal: Tennessee’s botched execution of Christa Pike renewed scrutiny of lethal injection methods, with the governor pausing executions and ordering a third-party review. Community & Governance: Greeneville’s water utility is set to receive a $21.1 million federal grant to repair storm-damaged intake infrastructure. Education & Access: A debate continues over how rural students get “workforce readiness” versus broader college preparation, with Tennessee State University highlighting the role of student voice in evaluating programs.

Energy & Investment: Trump’s administration says South Korea will invest up to $200B in U.S. energy, including a Texas gas power complex tied to AI data centers, a framework for eight nuclear reactors, and a still-under-review Alaska LNG project—highlighting how Tennessee’s broader nuclear and power buildout could intersect with new supply chains. Nuclear & Power Policy: The U.S. also moved forward on small nuclear reactor approvals and TVA-related permitting, keeping Tennessee in the mix as regulators greenlight more advanced reactor work. Local Business & Jobs: GM and LG expansion plans for Tennessee EV battery production add 500 jobs, while other Tennessee-focused manufacturing and logistics items point to continued industrial momentum. Healthcare Access: East Tennessee nonprofit SCHAS expands in-home care support via a donor-backed program aimed at reducing cost barriers for older adults and people with disabilities. Public Safety & Privacy: Tusculum is testing automated license plate readers, reigniting the privacy debate Tennessee cities have faced with surveillance tech. Tennessee Courts: The U.S. Supreme Court cleared the way for Tennessee’s first woman execution in 200 years after a late-stage legal fight. Community & Economy: Nashville-area movers and other small operators tout growth through customer service and local demand, from winter moving readiness to award recognition.

Auto & Manufacturing: GM and LG Energy Solution’s Ultium Cells will retool its Spring Hill, Tenn., plant for prismatic lithium manganese-rich battery cells, aiming for completion in 2028 and about 500 new jobs, as part of a broader $1B-by-2030 battery push. Energy Infrastructure: Kinder Morgan’s Southern Natural Gas unit unveiled the Southeast Connector Project—about 150 miles of new natural gas pipeline across Middle Tennessee, with construction targeted for late 2028 and service expected late 2030. Payments & Fintech: SWIVEL tapped Kinective to power a real-time payments posting and transaction-visibility hub, positioning the system for faster onboarding and future FedNow/RTP® capabilities. Public Safety & Health: Metro Nashville police warned about cychlorphine, a synthetic opioid they say is roughly 10 times more potent than fentanyl, urging residents to watch for overdose signs and keep naloxone available. Higher Ed & Governance: Tennessee Tech alumni association treasurer James “Jamie” Hargis was indicted after misappropriating at least $214,129.23, according to state investigators. Business Leadership: Buddy’s bar-b-q CEO Mark Lemoncelli was named to VIP Knoxville Magazine’s 50 Under 50 list.

Energy & Power Demand: TVA hit multiple all-time power demand records during September’s historic heat dome, delivering 30,000+ megawatts on 17 days and setting a Sept. 3 peak of 33,270 MW. EV Batteries: Ultium Cells will upgrade its Spring Hill plant to mass-produce lithium manganese-rich (LMR) prismatic cells, targeting completion in 2028 and adding 500 jobs. Healthcare & Data Security: Tennessee-linked fallout from the Labcorp/AMCA breach continues as a multistate settlement totals $2.3 million, underscoring vendor risk. Arts & Local Economy: The Nashville Symphony will suspend most of its 2026–27 season and furlough musicians and staff after a reported $10 million deficit. Business & Workforce: Innov865 Alliance’s 865 Fest pushed “founder-friendly” growth in Knoxville, while a logistics piece warned that transportation costs often rise from earlier warehouse and inventory decisions. Community & Education: tnAchieves surpassed 6.6 million service hours, and ETSU set a Tri-Cities Financial Aid Night for FAFSA help. Public Health: Graziers raw milk cheese was recalled nationwide after an E. coli outbreak sickened people including in Tennessee. Legal/Politics: Christa Pike is set for execution in Tennessee after the Supreme Court cleared the way.

Nuclear Power Push: The NRC issued TVA a construction permit for a BWRX-300 small modular reactor in Tennessee, a major step toward a “repeatable” licensing path for future SMRs. Disaster Funding: FEMA will send millions to North Carolina, Tennessee and Georgia for Hurricane Helene recovery projects, including debris removal and repairs to critical infrastructure. Consumer & Retail Expansion: Buc-ee’s is moving into Oklahoma City, signaling continued growth for the Texas-based travel center chain. Ag Prices & Antitrust: Tennessee and other states, with the FTC, secured a $35 million settlement with Corteva to dismantle pesticide loyalty programs and lower prices for farmers. Local Government Spending: Nashville Mayor Freddie O’Connell filed a fourth Capital Spending Plan covering schools, transportation, safety and public spaces, including a new Antioch elementary school and fire station upgrades. Tech & Cyber Policy: Federal cybersecurity bans could narrow which routers, robot vacuums and drones can be sold, with Consumer Reports urging shoppers to compare options now. Business Growth in Tennessee: Ntara launched an ROI guarantee for PIM/DAM implementations, while Clarksville-based Hankook Tire signed a five-year Racing America partnership starting in 2027. Energy Demand & Data Centers: A new push for AI data centers is driving major power buildouts, raising questions for Tennessee communities about electricity and water impacts.

Public Health & Data: ETSU’s Center for Rural Health and Research won a statewide public health award for its Tennessee Multi-Sector Plan for Aging Data Dashboard, a one-stop tool built with the Tennessee Department of Health to help counties and partners act on aging needs. Local Fire Service: Greene County volunteer fire departments are pushing for new recruits as call volume rises and membership thins, with chiefs warning the staffing crunch is spreading beyond any single department. Sports Betting Law: The 6th Circuit dealt Kalshi another setback, saying states can regulate Kalshi’s sports contracts under gambling laws and rejecting Kalshi’s push to treat them as swaps. Higher Ed & Cybersecurity: MTSU broke ground on a $5.6M cyber range with IBM and AWS-based training tech, aiming to strengthen the regional workforce against real-world cyberattacks. Tourism Recognition: Northeast Tennessee Tourism’s Sarah Fleming earned a statewide Rising Star award for early-career leadership and partner-building across the region. Local Economic Development: Greene County mayor signed a non-binding LOI to pursue a high-purity silver refining facility at the Snapps Ferry Industrial Site. Nashville Arts/Finance: Nashville Symphony suspended its 2026-27 season and furloughed staff and orchestra members amid a financial emergency.

Housing & Rent Antitrust: Renters asked a Tennessee federal judge for final approval of more than $359M in settlements tied to RealPage antitrust claims over alleged rent price-fixing. Sports Betting Regulation: The 6th Circuit ruled Ohio and Tennessee can regulate Kalshi sports-event contracts under state gambling laws, escalating a legal fight over prediction markets. Public Health & Food Safety: An E. coli outbreak linked to recalled Sierra Nevada Graziers raw milk cheese has sickened 13 people across nine states. Consumer Costs: Fast-food prices rose 3.2% over the past year, outpacing inflation, with Memphis among the higher-spending cities relative to income. Local Business & Growth: Studio 6 Plus is expanding with a new Horn Lake, MS development near Memphis, signaling continued demand for extended-stay lodging. Workplace/Community: Memphis Police are seeking suspects in an early-morning burglary at Nolan Audio Visual. Education Policy: The U.S. Education Department rescinded the Biden-era Title IX rules and restored the 2020 framework. Healthcare Policy: MGMA says the 2027 Medicare physician fee schedule is set to cut the conversion factor, with major federal changes looming for practices.

AI Data Centers & Power Strain: A new UN report warns governments are “flying blind” as hyperscale AI data centers race ahead of electricity and water planning, sparking rising local backlash. Tennessee Energy Angle: A separate look at the AI power crunch highlights gas-and-storage setups gaining traction, including a Memphis example pairing gas turbines with battery energy storage. Higher Ed & Workforce Pipeline: MTSU joined a Columbia State college fair in Maury County, connecting more than 1,000 students with recruiters on programs, admissions, and financial aid. Housing & Development: Dubai’s Sobha Realty says it’s investing $600M for about 700 homes in Texas, signaling continued appetite for large-scale U.S. expansion. Local Business & Real Estate: A Fayetteville investor bought two former medical buildings for $2.46M, underscoring ongoing turnover in healthcare real estate. Community & Public Safety: Murfreesboro reports a pattern of vehicle crashes into structures, with 16 since 2021 prompting specialized response and assessment. Energy Costs Watch: GasBuddy price checks show Tennessee diesel and gasoline remain volatile, with county-by-county lows reported for midgrade and diesel. Sports & Economy: The Giants’ QB shuffle after Jaxson Dart’s knee surgery keeps attention on roster decisions and ticket-market fallout.

Prediction Markets: A major 6th Circuit ruling says Ohio and Tennessee can treat Kalshi’s sports-event contracts as gambling under state law, potentially escalating the fight to the U.S. Supreme Court. Local Business & Health: Murray-Calloway County Hospital reported strong August patient volume but an operating loss near $1.4M, with cash and covenants still intact as a new CFO steps in. Energy & Environment: Tennessee regulators held a public hearing on SRM Materials’ request to expand its Smithville quarry and revise its NPDES permit for wastewater and storm water into Drivers Branch. Education & Community: Tennessee State University highlights the push to center student voice in surveys and advising, arguing data should reflect how students feel—not just metrics. Sports & Economy: NFL Week 3 is driving heavy promo activity tied to prediction markets, while Tennessee fans also watch local gas-price reports and diesel trends that keep household budgets in focus.

Higher Ed & Workforce: UT System enrollment hit a new high at 65,618 students this fall, up 1.2% year over year, with a new statewide survey showing stronger public confidence in UT and the value of a four-year degree. Local Business & Public Safety: Maryville is weighing an e-bike ordinance that could tighten rules for electric bikes and other off-highway vehicles, with officials previewing code updates during a work session. Agriculture & Supply Chain: Drought is worsening across the Mid-South, squeezing harvest yields and raising uncertainty for farmers already facing tighter margins. Food Safety: FDA and partners are investigating an E. coli outbreak tied to raw milk cheese, with 13 illnesses and eight hospitalizations reported so far. Energy & Infrastructure: TVA set a September power record amid extreme heat, underscoring electricity demand pressure. Policy & Markets: A court ruling says Ohio and Tennessee can regulate Kalshi under state gambling laws, adding momentum to state oversight of prediction markets. International Trade & Geopolitics: Trump rejected an Iranian proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, while Iran insists diplomacy is the only path forward.

Higher Ed & Workforce: Tennessee State University is spotlighting the “student voice” in how it uses NSSE/FSSE surveys to shape advising and academic support, pushing back on the idea that higher education should chase only fast metrics. Arts & Culture Finance: The Nashville Symphony says it lacks sufficient cash to keep operating at its current level and is developing a restructuring plan to stabilize finances. Film/TV Incentives: U.S. Rep. David Kustoff helped introduce a bipartisan federal tax credit proposal aimed at boosting U.S. film and television production, with extra support for rural and disaster areas—Tennessee included. Energy Costs: GasBuddy data shows diesel and gasoline prices staying volatile across Tennessee counties, with diesel lows around $5.37–$5.69 in several areas for the week ending Sept. 19. Local Economy & Housing: Zillow reports Franklin County’s typical home value at $319,612 in August 2026, up 3% year over year. Policy/Politics: The White House barred CNN from Trump’s Air Force One trip to Tennessee, continuing the administration’s media fight.

Media Access Fight: The White House barred CNN from traveling on Trump’s Air Force One to Tennessee, replacing it in the press pool with pro-Trump Lindell TV—another flashpoint in the administration’s broader press-access dispute. Public Health: Nashville-based Aegis Sciences says it has detected the synthetic opioid cychlorphine in 18 states, tied to dozens of East Tennessee deaths, while the FDA/CDC investigate an E. coli outbreak linked to Sierra Nevada Graziers raw milk cheese with 13 sickened across nine states and a recall underway. Higher Ed & Workforce: Tennessee’s FAFSA for 2027-28 is now open statewide, with THEC pushing early completion; county-by-county unemployment data shows most Tennessee counties under 5% for August, including Rhea at 4.4%. Local Governance: Greene County schools voted 6-1 to continue the SRO program. Infrastructure: TDOT has started replacing four I-40 bridges over 8th Avenue in Nashville, with work stretching into fall 2027.

AI & Data Centers: SpaceXAI says its Memphis/Southaven buildout is scaling fast, with Colossus I/II now running 220K+ GPUs and a $360M clean water recycling plant aimed at keeping cooling in a closed loop. Cybersecurity & Health Privacy: Tennessee’s acting AG Cori Mills announced a multistate settlement with Labcorp over a 2019 data breach tied to AMCA, underscoring “non-delegable” duties for patient data security. Energy Costs: GasBuddy reports show E85 and regular/premium prices varying across Tennessee counties in the week ending Sept. 19, with Hamilton County’s lowest E85 at $2.99 and premium prices topping $4.39 in Loudon. Local Business & Community: Kroger’s Hunger Action Month drive asks shoppers to round up to support the Mid-South Food Bank, while Jefferson County’s United Way Parade of Tables raised nearly $11,000 for local nonprofits. Economic Development: Tennessee’s Property Evaluation Program will add Putnam County (plus Cumberland and Chester) to help counties market shovel-ready industrial sites. Public Safety: Emergency officials held a Center Hill Dam high-water simulation with the Army Corps to stress-test flood warning coordination.

Quantum & Grid Tech: EPB launched an IonQ trapped-ion quantum computer at its Chattanooga quantum center, with commercial access starting in early October and UTC as the first customer; researchers will also use the system to test algorithms aimed at improving electric-grid operations. Smart Roads: Chattanooga demonstrated “connected” emergency-vehicle routing where traffic signals and sensors coordinate to clear safer paths, building on a federal SMART grant. State Services: Tennessee will offer free driver’s license replacements for a small set of licenses not recognized by TSA scanners. Healthcare Expansion: MGA Homecare acquired Care IV’s private duty nursing division, expanding medically complex in-home care into Arkansas. Local Business & Growth: Pending sales rose and inventory increased in the Chattanooga region, with median prices up to $350,000 as homes stayed on market longer. Public Safety & Health: Shelby County launched free “901 Care Kits” with naloxone and fentanyl test strips to help prevent overdose deaths. Energy Infrastructure: Kinder Morgan plans an 11-mile natural gas pipeline in DeKalb County into Cannon County, potentially affecting up to 50 landowners, with service targeted for 2029. Real Estate/Community: Metro Nashville asked residents to stagger sprinkler use overnight to protect water pressure during peak summer pumping demand. Dolly Day (Business Angle): Nashville will mark Dolly Day Sept. 25 with citywide events led by nearly 150 businesses, including donations tied to the Imagination Library.

Consumer Protection: Tennessee is among states joining a multistate push to reform Labcorp after a 2019 data breach, with AGs securing about $2.3 million and requiring major changes to data security and how Labcorp shares information with third-party debt collectors. Energy & Costs: Gas prices in Tennessee remain choppy but mostly easing from spring highs, with multiple counties reporting the week ending Sept. 19 at or near the high-$3s for regular and mid-$6s for diesel. Local Economic Development: Cumberland, Putnam and Chester counties were selected for the Tennessee Property Evaluation Program, aiming to line up “shovel-ready” industrial sites for future projects. Healthcare & Education: Freed-Hardeman University earned top U.S. News rankings in three categories, while Tennessee’s higher-ed debate continues as more adults weigh earnings versus rising college costs. Nashville Business/Legal: Nashville School District is named in a Meta lawsuit, adding to the region’s ongoing tech-and-education fallout. Sports & Travel: Avelo expands its Dallas/McKinney base with new nonstop routes including Nashville, and Tennessee’s college football and NFL storylines keep driving attention heading into Week 4. Public Safety & Community: Shelby County’s Crime Victims & Rape Crisis Center will host its Garden of Lights Memorial at the Memphis Botanic Garden on Sept. 25.

Legal Battle in Nashville: Dolly Parton’s estate (She’s Alive LLC) won a temporary restraining order against her nephew Bryan Seaver and his private security firm, barring them from entering estate properties or getting within 1,000 feet of staff and partners; the court cites alleged threats tied to demands for payment, with a hearing set for Oct. 7. Local Governance & Growth: La Vergne’s Twinning Station “Twinning Station” development plan keeps expanding—city staff now cites 987 proposed homes on about 110 acres, up from earlier versions. Tourism & Branding: Visit Franklin was named Destination Marketing Organization of the Year for a second straight year, highlighting countywide brand coordination. Business & Industry: Chattanooga battery-materials firm Novonix says its mass-production graphite qualification is close, with remaining gaps after lead-customer testing and a supply chain agreement. Public Safety/Policy: Tennessee lawmakers discussed a 6-month emergency rule for “economic protection zones,” including expanded state law enforcement authority in major tourist districts.