Tennessee

Federal cuts threaten funding for learning opportunities in Tennessee

Published

8 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

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Tennessee

Tennessee murder suspect arrested in Omaha

Published

11 hours ago

November 21, 2025

Press Room

Tennessee murder suspect arrested in Omaha

OMAHA, Neb. (WOWT) – A man accused of murder in Tennessee more than a year ago had his bond denied in Douglas County Court on Thursday.

Authorities in Omaha took 30-year-old Nigel Farmer into custody late Wednesday.

Nigel Farmer, 30(Shelby County Sheriff’s Office)

On Oct. 29 2024, deputies in Memphis found a 31-year-old woman shot and killed at a home. After deputies conducted an extensive investigation, Farmer was identified as the suspect.

He will remain in Nebraska while awaiting extradition, which he wavied in court Thursday.

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Tennessee

Dense fog then rounds of rain for Middle Tennessee

Published

1 day ago

November 20, 2025

Press Room

Dense fog then rounds of rain for Middle Tennessee

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) –

FIRST ALERT WEATHER DAY – TODAY

Widespread fog has developed across Middle Tennessee to start off our day with visibility dropping to less than half a mile in some areas. Prepare for a longer morning commute and use caution while driving through foggy areas.

We are also tracking some widespread rain that will move through this afternoon through our evening commute. At times the rain will come down heavy and could cause ponding on roadways. We’ll even get to hear a few rumbles of thunder but there is no severe weather threat. Rain wll taper off late this evening and into the overnight hours. Highs today will be in the mid 60s.

FRIDAY FORECAST

More off and on rounds of showers will continue through our Friday. While we will certainly find some decent dry time, keep the umbrella handy and keep an eye to the sky. Yes there will be a few thunderstorms, but there is still no severe weather threat to be worried about. Highs on Friday will top off near 70. More scattered showers and storms will move in Friday night and lingering into early Saturday morning.

WEEKEND FORECAST

As mentioned above, a shower or two could lingering into Saturday morning, but most of us will stay dry as we try and break the clouds in the afternoon. It will be cooler Saturday afternoon with highs in the mid to upper 60s.

We’ll do a better job at getting sunshine back on Sunday with temperatures in the low 60s.

NEXT WEEK

A dry and sunny start to our Monday, but clouds increase quickly in the afternoon with highs staying in the 60s.

Rain move in Monday night and through Tuesday with a few rumbles of thunder as well. A shower or two will linger into Wednesday before a shot of colder air around Thanksgiving

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Tennessee

Tennessee joins settlement against Greystar over ‘anticompetitive’ rent pricing scheme

Published

2 days ago

November 19, 2025

Press Room

Tennessee joins settlement against Greystar over ‘anticompetitive’ rent pricing scheme

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — Tennessee has joined a multistate settlement proposal with the nation’s largest property management firm over allegations it unfairly rigged their prices for rental units.

According to Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti’s office, the proposed settlement with Greystar Management Services, LLC, resolves allegations of “anticompetitive practices that resulted in artificially-increased rents” for renters in Tennessee.

The property management giant reached a non-monetary settlement consent decree with 9 states, including Tennessee, according to the AG’s office.

An investigation from a bipartisan coalition looked into Greystar’s participation in an “algorithmic pricing scheme” that allowed multiple property management companies to share their supply and pricing data among each other through a service called RealPage.

RealPage is a revenue management software utilized by many property management companies, including Greystar.

By sharing the sensitive renal data, the states alleged the property management companies were able to artificially inflate and align their rental prices, thus reducing competition in the multi-family residential rental market.

Greystar alone operates nearly 950,000 rental units nationwide, including more than 6,000 in Tennessee.

The AG’s office said the proposed settlement represents one step in broader enforcement efforts, as they continue to pursue legal action against RealPage and four other property management companies.

“Tennessee renters were stuck paying too much because property management companies shared information through the RealPage software to artificially inflate prices,” Skrmetti said in a release. “It’s not fair, it’s not right, and we are putting a stop to it by holding these companies accountable.”

⏩ Read today’s top stories on wkrn.com

The proposed consent decree, if approved by the Court, would require Greystar to do the following:

Refrain from using any anticompetitive algorithm that generates pricing recommendations using its competitors’ competitively sensitive data or that incorporates certain anticompetitive features;
Refrain from sharing competitively sensitive information with competitors;
Accept a court-appointed monitor if it uses a third-party pricing algorithm that is not certified pursuant to the terms of the consent decree;
Refrain from attending or participating in RealPage-hosted meetings of competing landlords; and
Cooperate with the coalition’s claims against RealPage

Tennessee joined in the proposed settlement with California, Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Massachusetts, Minnesota, North Carolina, and Oregon, according to the attorney general.

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