Tennessee

Federal cuts threaten funding for learning opportunities in Tennessee

Published

9 months ago

April 1, 2025

Federal cuts threaten funding for learning opportunities in Tennessee

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (WTVF) — The recently formed Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, led to the dismantling of several government agencies — one of which provides millions of dollars in grants to libraries and museums across the country, including Tennessee.

In an executive order earlier this month, President Trump called for the elimination of the Institute of Museum and Library Services, which was established in 1998 by a Republican-led Congress. A local museum director worries these cuts will impact children, especially those in rural counties.

On an average afternoon, the Discovery Center at Murfree Spring welcomes around 200 kids from across the state. They’re having fun while also learning.

“I’ve learned about the animals outside and about the insects and stuff,” said one child visiting the center.

Everything they’re taught revolves around Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math, or STEAM.

“We’ve been learning about solids, liquids, and gases,” said another child who was on a field trip with his school.

These visits can inspire them to aim for the stars.

“We have testimonials from current pilots who grew up flying the little simulator that was here, and now they’re pilots, or another scientist who is working on disease and was influenced by the water table,” said Discovery Center President and CEO Tara MacDougall.

This work at the museum wouldn’t be possible without donations and grants; since 2008, they have received more than $2.1 million from the Institute of Museum and Library Services.

“A lot of our work that has been awarded through IMLS has to do with focusing on rural counties,” explained MacDougall.

Projects like renovating a school bus into a mobile science lab take the educational experience to kids who wouldn’t otherwise have these opportunities. However, a recent executive order is dismantling the agency.

MacDougall says she supports government efficiency but worries about the ripple effect this could have on children. “That will have a devastating effect, specifically on our rural counties,” added MacDougall.

Currently, they are at the end of a four-year leadership grant from IMLS and do not know if they will receive the last part of the funds.

“Our last big effort with this grant is with educators across the state of Tennessee,” said MacDougall. “So, it would interrupt what we had promised we were going to provide them, and that affects all children in Tennessee.”

The Trump administration says it will revitalize the agency and restore focus on patriotism.

“There’s no more organic way of feeling patriotic and learning about your country than by excelling in science, technology, engineering, arts, and math,” said MacDougall. “That builds a tremendous sense of pride, and it really develops leaders for the future.”

Though IMLS makes up less than .01% of the federal budget, it is the largest source of federal funding for libraries and helps museums across the country. On Monday, March 31, the Trump administration placed the staff of the agency on administrative leave.

Do you have more information about this story? You can email me at Patsy.Montesinos@NewsChannel5.com

Meet Trashley! New commercial pays tribute to 1970s Tennessee anti-litter ad

You’ll love her and you’ll love to hate her! Meet Trashley: the bad girl of Nashville littering. She stars in a new campaign that’s a throwback to an anti-litter movement from years past. Her role has been reimagined by NDOT as a fast-paced, Dukes of Hazzard-style wrecking ball of a lady. You’ll find yourself cracking up as you meet the actress behind Trashley and hear how she landed the role of Queen of Trash.

-Rebecca Schleicher

Source link

Click to comment

Tennessee

Sold on Cam Ward’s future? Tennessee Titans teammates sure are | Estes

Published

3 hours ago

December 22, 2025

Press Room

Sold on Cam Ward’s future? Tennessee Titans teammates sure are | Estes

As rough as this season has been for the Tennessee Titans and a grumpy Cam Ward, a faint glimmer of light is appearing at the end of the tunnel.

It says something important about rookie quarterback Cam Ward that his reputation among veteran Tennessee Titans teammates is that of a grumpy old codger.

“Don’t be a Grinch today,” defensive star Jeffery Simmons told Ward after the Titans — gasp — won a home football game, beating the Kansas City Chiefs 26-9 on Dec. 21 at Nissan Stadium, improving to 3-12 and getting to enjoy the holidays just a bit more.

Simmons was kidding with Ward. Well, he was kind of kidding.

The last time the Titans won (on Dec. 7 in Cleveland — not that it’s difficult to narrow it down), Ward showed up to his postgame news conference in a sour mood, relatively displeased with how the victory had gone.

On the flight back, Titans defensive end Arden Key reportedly used the plane’s speaker system to joke about Ward’s disposition after the game. We know that because Will Boling, the Titans’ sideline reporter and a host on 104.5-FM, relayed that on the air (which caused the team to subsequently remove him from traveling on the team’s plane).

So that’s the Grinch-iness Simmons was talking about.

It’s also, however, why Simmons said about Ward a few minutes later: “I keep telling people, that’s the reason why I don’t want to go nowhere. I see the competitive nature. I see the growth as a rookie. I can see where he could take this franchise.”

Ward got this far as a zero-star prep recruit, becoming the No. 1 pick in the NFL draft, because his nature is to never be satisfied, even while winning. This is a strength. So is the fact that he is genuine in his thoughts. Doesn’t sugarcoat. Tells it like it is.

So this Titans season has been an experiment.

What happens when you take a quarterback like that and have him lose a whole bunch of games right away in the NFL?

You get quotes like “we ass,” which Ward famously said earlier this season after the Titans started 0-for-4. Some older teammates didn’t like hearing that at the time. But he wasn’t wrong, as this season has continued to demonstrate.

Ward’s first NFL head coach, Brian Callahan, was fired after six games this season. The Titans lost six in a row after that (seven in a row total), and five were at Nissan Stadium. It has been humbling, I’d imagine, for a touted rookie quarterback, especially because Ward’s performances have been mixed, if not overall underwhelming.

But as Simmons noted, “Cam hasn’t changed” during all the losses. That’s what teammates have noticed.

Joking aside, Ward has earned the respect of teammates — young and old — behind the scenes because of his fortitude. And of course, his ability.

“That guy is so talented,” rookie receiver Chimere Dike said of Ward, “but his work ethic is something that I really appreciate. I’m thankful that I’ve been able to grow with him this year, and I can’t wait to continue to build that rapport going forward. Hopefully, we’ll win a lot of games in Nashville.”

Win a lot? Could it be that Ward’s Titans are finally noticing a faint glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel? Perhaps all the struggles are beginning to bear fruit?

For Ward, this was a good weekend. His college team, the Miami Hurricanes, got a gigantic College Football Playoff win at Texas A&M. “I plan on them going out there and beating Ohio State (in the quarterfinals),” Ward chirped.

A day later, the Chiefs game may have been Ward’s best so far in the NFL. He went 21-for-28 for 228 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions, and while that might not sound too impressive, he led the Titans to three long TD drives and a 9-for-17 clip on third down.

Those eye-opening highlights, the ones that’ve flashed all season, haven’t gone away, either. Against Kansas City, Ward made a laughably absurd throw. Against his body and off his back foot, he found Dike for 30 yards to beat cornerback Kristian Fulton (remember him?).

“I’ve been better each and every week,” Ward said, “whether it’s one thing or whether it’s a major thing.”

The Titans, as an organization, may not be certain that they have their future quarterback yet. Ward’s journey is ongoing, and it will stay this way through next season. But the arrow keeps tilting slightly more north as this rough season nears a merciful — yet increasingly optimistic — conclusion.

Titans teammates, for what it’s worth, have sounded convinced about Ward for a while.

Teammates who matter.

Do not underestimate the importance of the quote from Simmons. It’s not a given that he’d want to stay with a franchise that’s gone 6-26 the past two seasons and not even sniffed the playoffs. A lot has been asked of Simmons here, and he’d be coveted by every other NFL team.

If Simmons is insisting he wants to stay amid all this losing, it’s worth paying attention to the reason why.

That reason just won his first home game as an NFL quarterback. And you know what? Cam Ward even seemed happy about this one.

Reach Tennessean sports columnist Gentry Estes at gestes@tennessean.com and hang out with him on Bluesky @gentryestes.bsky.social

Source link

Tennessee

Is Taylor Swift attending Tennessee Titans vs Chiefs in Nashville today?

Published

15 hours ago

December 21, 2025

Press Room

Is Taylor Swift attending Tennessee Titans vs Chiefs in Nashville today?

With the Kansas City Chiefs in Nashville, many Tennessee Titans fans may be curious if Chiefs super fan Taylor Swift will be at Nissan Stadium on Dec. 21.

Swift, international music star and Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce’s fiancé, has frequently been seen at Chiefs games since the two started dating in 2023.

Unfortunately, Swift is not expected to be at Nissan Stadium for the matchup between the Titans (2-12) and Chiefs (6-8).

The Titans and Chiefs kick off at noon CT (CBS).

This season, Swift has attended every Chiefs home game at Arrowhead Stadium, but has not attended any road games.

Several factors have dulled the intrigue of this matchup heading into the week. Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes has been ruled out with a torn ACL and will be out the rest of the season. Also, Kansas City was officially eliminated from playoff contention with their 16-13 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers on Dec. 14.

Combine that with the Titans’ poor record in 2025 — and that they have not won a game at Nissan Stadium since Nov. 3, 2024 — and you have a somewhat of a meaningless game ahead.

Alex Daugherty is the Predators beat writer for The Tennessean. Contact Alex at jdaugherty@gannett.com. Follow Alex on X, the platform formerly called Twitter, @alexdaugherty1. Also check out our Predators exclusive Instagram page @tennessean_preds.

Source link

Tennessee

In-N-Out lines in Tennessee are so long there’s now an app to track wait times

Published

1 day ago

December 21, 2025

Press Room

In-N-Out lines in Tennessee are so long there’s now an app to track wait times

In-N-Out Burger expanding to Tennessee

The beloved California burger chain announced Tuesday its plan to open future restaurants in Tennessee in addition to an Eastern territory office in the city of Franklin.

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – Hoping to get in and out of In-N-Out Burger quickly? There’s an app for that.

The arrival of the beloved California burger chain in Tennessee has sparked such intense demand that fans have turned to technology to manage the hours-long lines.

How ‘The Wait App’ tracks massive burger lines

What we know:

Tennessee’s first three In-N-Out locations—situated in Lebanon, Antioch, and Murfreesboro—opened their doors in mid-December to massive crowds.

To combat the resulting congestion, a web-based tool called Thewaitapp.com was launched to provide real-time data on how long it takes to order both inside the restaurant and at the drive-thru, WSMV reports.

SUGGESTED: In-N-Out Burger removes number ’67’ from system in response to viral ‘6-7’ trend

The app relies entirely on crowdsourcing, meaning users visiting the restaurants input their own wait times to keep the data current for others.

Timeline of In-N-Out’s Tennessee expansion

Timeline:

In-N-Out’s rapid expansion into the Midstate occurred over the course of a single week in December 2025:

December 10: The first two Tennessee locations officially opened in Lebanon and Nashville’s Antioch neighborhood, drawing immediate, multi-hour lines.

December 12: A third location opened in Murfreesboro, further expanding the brand’s footprint in the region.

Mid-December: “The Wait App” launched shortly after the initial openings to help customers find the shortest lines among the trio of restaurants.

The In-N-Out effect

Why you should care:

For Tennessee residents, the arrival of the California-based chain is a significant cultural and economic event, but it has also created localized traffic issues.

The launch of a third-party app highlights the “In-N-Out effect,” where brand loyalty is high enough to drive secondary technological solutions.

SUGGESTED: See how this California In-N-Out solved its biggest traffic problem

For the casual diner, using the app can mean the difference between a quick meal and a three-hour commitment, as it even provides a “confidence level” for the accuracy of the reported times.

The backstory:

In-N-Out heiress and CEO Lynsi Snyder announced in 2023 that In-N-Out planned to open future restaurants in Tennessee in addition to an Eastern territory administrative office in the city of Franklin.

Earlier this year, Snyder revealed she and her family were relocating to Tennessee.

“There’s a lot of great things about California, but raising a family is not easy here,” she said on an episode of the podcast Relatable with Allie Beth Stuckey. “Doing business is not easy here now.”

Snyder said the majority of In-N-Out restaurants would still be in California.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE:

“Moving into Tennessee provides our In-N-Out Associates wonderful opportunities to buy a home and raise a family and be a part of our expansion in a different part of the U.S.,” she said in a separate video clarifying her statements made on the podcast.

“It’s tough here in California, and this doesn’t have to do with my love or loyalty to the state and our customers,” she said. “But I love our associates and I [want to] offer them this.”

Big picture view:

In-N-Out was founded by Harry and Esther Snyder in Baldwin Park in 1948 as California’s first drive-thru hamburger stand.

The chain expanded to locations across the Golden State and in 1992, it opened its first restaurant outside California in Nevada.

SUGGESTED: In-N-Out, Trader Joes named among best employers in California: See the list

In-N-Out currently operates more than 400 locations across California, Nevada, Arizona, Utah, Texas, Oregon, Colorado, Idaho, and Tennessee.

Future of the franchise

What’s next:

While the initial “grand opening craze” has settled slightly, wait times are expected to remain high through the holiday season. The success of the Tennessee wait-tracking tool may set a precedent for future In-N-Out expansions into new territories.

This story was reported from Los Angeles.

The Source: This report is based on local coverage of In-N-Out Burger’s expansion into Middle Tennessee and technical specifications from Thewaitapp.com. Data regarding restaurant opening dates and location details were verified through official company announcements and local news reports from the Nashville and Murfreesboro areas.

In-N-OutTennesseeU.S.TechnologyFood and DrinkRestaurants

Source link