Tennessee

Lamar Alexander: America is divided politically, but Howard Baker provides us a path to save our republic

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2 years ago

July 14, 2024

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Lamar Alexander: America is divided politically, but Howard Baker provides us a path to save our republic

I believe Howard Baker would see the wheel of history turning again with a new opportunity for today’s generation to improve our republic. The greatest obstacle is that we are divided.

Lamar Alexander
| Guest Columnist

Lamar Alexander was Sen. Howard Baker’s first legislative assistant. He served as governor, U.S. senator, U.S. education secretary and president of the University of Tennessee.

Editor’s note: Former Tennessee Gov. and Sen. Lamar Alexander wrote and submitted this guest essay prior to the assassination attempt against former President Donald Trump on July 13. However, the message is even more relevant in light of that event.

One of Tennessee U.S. Sen. Howard Baker’s favorite words was “republic.”

When things looked bleak in the face of an obstinate senator, a presidential election or a war, Howard would say: “The republic will survive.”

He chose “republic,” not “democracy.” There is a difference.

Democracy is government by the majority, something we could do if everyone voted on the internet. A republic is government by an elected body according to a constitution, a messier operation with checks and balances.

On September 17, 1787, near the end of the Constitutional Convention, a woman asked Benjamin Franklin, “Well doctor, what have we got?”

“A republic, if you can keep it,” Franklin said.

Public service lets Americans make an impact on the lives of millions

Today, as our republic approaches its 250th birthday in 2026, we are in a new era that has driven opinions to extremes, soured relationships, demolished behavioral norms, encouraged politicians to race toward their bases, undermined treasured institutions, and damaged confidence in the future of our country.

Would Howard Baker, who passed away in 2014, still say our republic will survive?

First, I believe he would be encouraged by the example of the other Senate Majority Leader from Tennessee, Bill Frist.

“Why would you give up being one of the world’s leading transplant surgeons to run for the United States Senate?” I asked Frist in February 1994.

Neither Donald Trump nor any other leader deserves to be a target of political violence

“Today I can fly to Chattanooga, cut out a heart, put it in a garbage bag on ice, fly back to Vanderbilt Hospital, perform an eight-hour operation, and maybe a year later I’ll meet one person on the street who will thank me for saving his life. If I’m a senator, maybe I can save a million lives,” he said.

Dr. Frist won and, working with President George W. Bush, created PEPFAR ( President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief), investing $100 billion to combat HIV-AIDS and saving 25 million lives.

Citizens want policy changes, but they abhor government

As governor and senator, I woke up every day thinking I could do something good for my state or country and went to bed most nights thinking that I had.

Still, I have a hard time persuading friends that serving in public office is a privilege.

“How could you stand to be there? How did you ever get anything done?” they demand to know.

Home builder Delmar Caylor once showed me a large dead rat that he had extracted from the wall behind the commode after he had crawled under our house. The dead rat had been causing an odor.

“I wouldn’t want your job,” I said.

“I had rather have my job crawling under your house any day than the job you have up there in Washington working with Harry Reid,” Delmar said.

“Students today want to change public policy, but they don’t like government,” said Dr. Marianne Wanamaker, dean of the University of Tennessee’s Baker School of Public Policy and Public Affairs.

In naming the school, UT avoided the word “government.”

Students may feel that way, but Dr. Wanamaker will have to teach those who want to change things that if they want to make the greatest difference, they will have to figure out how to be elected to government or go to work for someone who has been.

U.S. is the envy of the world even as we are divided politically

In “Team of Rivals,” historian Doris Kearns Goodwin writes, “As a young man, Lincoln worried that nothing had been left for his generation but modest ambitions.” Then, “the wheel of history turned.”

I believe Howard Baker would see the wheel of history turning again with a new opportunity for today’s generation to improve our republic.

The greatest obstacle is that we are divided.

“Too much pluribus and not enough unum,” filmmaker Ken Burns said when he visited Knoxville.

Tennessee Sen. Marsha Blackburn earns bipartisan win, but she’s still a political bruiser

I agree, but we also have what it takes it to put things back together again.

We produce 25% of the world’s money and half its venture capital for only 5% of the world’s people.

We have the strongest military; most of the best universities, create the most advanced vaccines and cures; and lead in artificial intelligence and a hundred other technologies.

Our constitutional guarantees of liberty are the envy of the world. One of our toughest problems is what to do about the millions who want to move here. This is not a recipe for despair.

UT dedicated its new school to Howard Baker’s legacy — to attract, encourage and graduate talented students who look forward to serving in public office, pulling Americans together, solving problems and keeping our country on the right track.

That is how Howard Baker’s school can give meaning to his words: the republic will survive.

Lamar Alexander was Sen. Howard Baker’s first legislative assistant. He served as governor, U.S. senator, U.S. education secretary and president of the University of Tennessee. He is writing a memoir, his 10th book.

The Howard H. Baker Jr. School of Public Policy and Public Affairs, which celebrated its one-year anniversary on July 1, 2024, aims to produce the next generation of skilled public problem solvers prepared to take leadership roles in their communities. Baker School students are grounded in the legacy of Howard H. Baker Jr. with curriculum and co-curricular activities focused on Baker’s guiding principles including Confidence in America, Finding Common Ground and You Might Be Right. Under the umbrellas of two research centers, Baker School faculty and experts combine sound science and thoughtful policy to address challenges facing the state of Tennessee, the United States, and the world. In addition, the Baker School houses the Institute of American Civics, which is responsible for encouraging civic knowledge and participation among UT undergraduates and the state at large.

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Tennessee

TN Lottery Powerball, Lotto America winning numbers for July 8, 2026

Published

1 hour ago

July 9, 2026

Press Room

The Tennessee Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big.

Here’s a look at July 8, 2026, results for each game:

Winning Powerball numbers from July 8 drawing

12-29-37-43-55, Powerball: 18, Power Play: 4

Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Lotto America numbers from July 8 drawing

17-26-31-32-37, Star Ball: 01, ASB: 02

Check Lotto America payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Cash 3 numbers from July 8 drawing

Morning: 5-0-7, Wild: 6

Midday: 9-0-5, Wild: 8

Evening: 4-7-3, Wild: 3

Check Cash 3 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Cash 4 numbers from July 8 drawing

Morning: 1-9-3-7, Wild: 4

Midday: 0-0-0-8, Wild: 3

Evening: 8-0-5-3, Wild: 1

Check Cash 4 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Daily Tennessee Jackpot numbers from July 8 drawing

07-14-15-18-29

Check Daily Tennessee Jackpot payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Tennessee Cash numbers from July 8 drawing

01-02-06-13-27, Bonus: 03

Check Tennessee Cash payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Powerball Double Play numbers from July 8 drawing

06-27-33-44-69, Powerball: 23

Check Powerball Double Play payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Millionaire for Life numbers from July 8 drawing

16-18-43-48-50, Bonus: 01

Check Millionaire for Life payouts and previous drawings here.

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your lottery prize

All Tennessee Lottery retailers will redeem prizes up to $599.

For prizes over $599, winners can submit winning tickets through the mail or in person at Tennessee Lottery offices. By mail, send a winner claim form, winning lottery ticket, a copy of a government-issued ID and proof of social security number to P.O. Box 290636, Nashville, TN 37229. Prize claims less than $600 do not require a claim form. Please include contact information on prizes claimed by mail in the event we need to contact you.

To submit in person, sign the back of your ticket, fill out a winner claim form and deliver the form, along with the ticket and government-issued ID and proof of social security number to any of these locations:

Nashville Headquarters & Claim Center: 26 Century Blvd., Nashville, TN 37214, 615-254-4946 in the (615) and (629) area, 901-466-4946 in the (901) area, 865-512-4946 in the (865) area, 423-939-7529 in the (423) area or 1-877-786-7529 (all other areas in Tennessee). Outside Tennessee, dial 615-254-4946. Hours: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. This office can cash prizes of any amount.

Knoxville District Office: Cedar Springs Shopping Center, 9298 Kingston Pike, Knoxville, TN 37922, (865) 251-1900. Hours: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. This office can cash prizes up to $199,999.

Chattanooga District Office: 2020 Gunbarrel Rd., Suite 106, Chattanooga, TN 37421, (423) 308-3610. Hours: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. This office can cash prizes up to $199,999.

Memphis District Office: Chiles Plaza, 7424 U.S. Highway 64, Suite 104, Memphis, TN 38133, (901) 322-8520. Hours: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. This office can cash prizes up to $199,999.

Check previous winning numbers and payouts at https://tnlottery.com/.

When are the Tennessee Lottery drawings held?

Powerball: 9:59 p.m. CT Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
Mega Millions: 10:00 p.m. CT Tuesday and Friday.
Cash 3, 4: Daily at 9:28 a.m. (Morning) and 12:28 p.m. CT (Midday), except for Sunday. Evening game daily, seven days a week, at 6:28 p.m. CT.
Daily Tennessee Jackpot: 9:00 p.m. CT daily.
Tennessee Cash: 10:34 p.m. CT Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.
Powerball Double Play: 10:30 p.m. CT Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
Millionaire for Life: 10:15 p.m. CT daily.

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Tennessean editor. You can send feedback using this form.

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Tennessee

Data centers driving up Tennessee power bills, report finds

Published

11 hours ago

July 8, 2026

Press Room

Data centers driving up Tennessee power bills, report finds

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) – Home power bills are feeling the impact of data centers opening across Tennessee communities, according to a new report from ThinkTennessee.

Researchers found electricity usage has increased by more than 7.2 times over the past five years as data centers opened in the Tennessee Valley region. Areas with data centers saw average power bills rise more than the state average, but the increase was not distributed evenly among customers in those areas.

“Tennessee’s data center growth is arriving faster than the rules designed to manage that growth,” research director Chris Candelaria said. “Our report isn’t saying whether data centers are good or bad. Instead, we’re trying to highlight the issues that communities and policymakers need to know about.”

Residential customers hit harder than businesses

Residential customers in communities with data centers saw their bills jump 3.2 percent, to an average of $149 a month, between 2023 and 2024, the report found.

During that same period, commercial customers, including data centers themselves, saw their bills slightly decrease. By comparison, the statewide average power bill over the same period increased 1.3 percent.

Candelaria said the findings are tied directly to where the data centers are located and signal what may be ahead for the rest of the state.

“Residents seeing these higher prices and that’s associated with where the data centers are located,” Candelaria said. “We know that the data centers are coming, and the report’s really just forecasting that this situation may play out in more places across the state. This is an issue that city and community leaders will need to address directly.”

He said the trend warrants close attention, but stopped short of drawing firm conclusions in their report based on the data analyzed.

Tennessee emerges as a data center hub

The report, titled “Powering the Boom,” describes Tennessee as an emerging data center market that has likely not yet seen the full scale of potential growth. For roughly 15 years, the state’s electricity consumption was essentially flat or declining before the current surge began around 2020.

Data center facilities planned, operating or under construction in Tennessee represent approximately 2,177 megawatts of demand capacity which is roughly equivalent to powering more than 1.3 million homes for a year. Those facilities are concentrated in and around Memphis, Nashville and Knoxville.

Grid strain, costly outages a concern

Candelaria said the study drew on data from across the country to examine how data centers are already affecting communities and what Middle Tennessee should plan for.

“As we get requests for more data centers, there’s an issue with how is that going to affect our current grid infrastructure? This is the key question,” Candelaria said. “We also provide in the report some studies from other states. If you over-strain the system, what does that mean? Well, it could lead to costly outages. We’re just trying to think strategically.”

Alex Kardokus is among the more than 500,000 people who signed a petition against a proposed data center near the Nashville Zoo. He said his concerns have since expanded to the broader impact data centers could have across the city after learning about this report.

“NES, we don’t want that (bill) to go higher because it’s already expensive in Nashville. Don’t want that to be a raising,” Kardokus said.

Policy seen as key to managing growth

Candelaria said policies, including data center zoning restrictions Metro Council is currently working on, will be key to protecting families from further cost increases. He said the decisions made now will shape whether the growth benefits or burdens Tennessee residents.

“The policy choices that we make now on pricing and grid planning will determine whether that growth is going to strengthen the state’s economy or whether that’s going to shift costs onto everyday households,” Candelaria said.

He added that the situation requires a balancing act, as data centers also bring jobs and economic opportunities to the communities where they operate.

ThinkTennessee said a second installment of the “Powering the Boom” series is expected to lay out policy options aimed at protecting ratepayers while the sector continues to grow.

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In-N-Out’s fifth Tennessee location is opening soon. Here’s how many stores are planned

Published

22 hours ago

July 8, 2026

Press Room

In-N-Out’s fifth Tennessee location is opening soon. Here’s how many stores are planned

In-N-Out Burger will soon open its fifth Tennessee location in Madison, near Nashville.
The California-based chain currently operates four stores in Tennessee and plans dozens more.

In-N-Out Burger will soon be opening its fifth Tennessee store.

The beloved burger chain lists six locations as “opening soon” on the Grand Openings page of its website, including a restaurant in Madison. The Madison location will open at 1900 Gallatin Pike North, about 13 miles northeast of Nashville.

The store also plans to open stores in Arizona, Utah, Idaho and two in California, USA TODAY reported.

Find your next meal on DoorDash

In-N-Out, which announced plans for a major expansion and a new headquarters in Tennessee in 2023, opened its first Tennessee restaurants in December 2025.

The chain, known for animal-style fries and double-double burgers, opened locations in Nashville’s Antioch neighborhood, Murfreesboro and Lebanon in early December. It then opened a fourth Tennessee restaurant in Franklin just a few months later.

Here’s what else to know about the West Coast-based company’s expansion into the Volunteer State.

Why is In-N-Out expanding to Tennessee?

In-N-Out is moving to Tennessee to establish a $125 million corporate hub in Franklin, on the Berry Farms site near Interstate 65. It’s estimated that In-N-Out’s expansion into Tennessee will create 275 jobs and a $125 million investment in the state.

Lynsi Snyder confirms relocation to Tennessee

In 2025, billionaire heiress Lynsi Snyder announced she would relocate her family to the Volunteer State as the company expands eastward.

In a podcast appearance with conservative host Allie Beth Stuckey, Snyder cited frustrations with California’s high costs and regulatory burdens on businesses and families.

“There’s a lot of great things about California, but raising a family is not easy here. Doing business is not easy here,” Snyder said. “The bulk of our stores are still going to be here in California, but it will be wonderful having an office out there, growing out there.”

After facing criticism for her comments, Snyder clarified that moving to Tennessee offers In-N-Out associates “wonderful opportunities” to buy homes, raise families, and participate in the company’s growth in a new region.

In a video posted to social media, she called the move “a very healthy plan for our growth,” highlighting opportunities for employees in Tennessee and potentially neighboring states.