Tennessee
Lawmakers approve ballistic film for Tennessee capitol and other office buildings. What about schools?
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — Over the next three years, state office buildings in Downtown Nashville are scheduled to get major security upgrades. The question becomes — should those projects get priority over making schools safer?
While crowds have been tense up on Tennessee’s Capitol Hill, Democrats say there’s no question that they’re still safe when they’re up on the hill. “We have a building full of troopers, security, we are safe,” said Sen. London Lamar, a Democrat from Memphis who serves as the Senate Democratic Caucus Chair.
Still, lawmakers recently approved a plan to equip all of the state’s downtown buildings, including the state capitol, with bullet and riot resistant film that is attached to the existing windows and doors. “We’re going to be looking at state buildings as well to make sure our state employees are safe, to make sure all of the visitors to our state buildings are safe,” explained Rep. William Lamberth, a Republican from Portland who serves as House Majority Leader.
The film is created and installed by the company Safe Haven Defense. According to the state, the ballistic film can withstand rounds from an AR-15. Total cost of the project: $3.1 million.
“It actually sounds like they spending more money on keeping themselves safe than actual Tennesseans,” said Sen. Lamar .”You can use that 3.1 million dollars to fund conflict resolution programs in our schools. You can use that money to increase job programs, to increase people’s pay.”
Republicans argue, last year, they offered up about $40 million for school districts to spend on safety upgrades as a part of a larger school security legislative package. “That’s our top priority, is to make sure every single school in this state is safe. That’s film on windows, that’s going to be new construction standards,” explained Lamberth.
“That didn’t require [ballistic] film in every school, did it?” asked NewsChannel 5.
“Allowing them to have the flexibility to decide what’s important for them first is the way to go,” replied Speaker of the House Cameron Sexton, a Republican from Crossville. “Hopefully we’ll continue to put money in the budget to continue to fund security enhancements for schools.”
While some districts applied for the grant money, and installed ballistic film, most spent it on other safety measures. But in the years to come, that could be changing. “My hope and my desire would be, every single school has glass on their exterior doors that cannot be broken, penetrated through, entered through,” said Lamberth.
Metro Nashville Schools voted to put ballistic film on all of their schools last year. They used a different vendor. The cost was also about $3 million.
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Tennessee
Where Tennessee Baseball Players, Commits Land In Final MLB Mock Drafts, Rankings | Rocky Top Insider
The 2026 MLB Draft gets underway on Saturday afternoon to jump start MLB All-Star game festivities in Philadelphia. The two-day, 20-round draft is a highly important once for Tennessee baseball. While there are fewer current Vols projected to be selected, there will be no shortage of Tennessee prep signees and transfer commits who are draft risks.
We’ve compiled a number of both mock drafts and overall draft prospect rankings from a multitude of outlets that give us a look at where Tennessee players, transfers and commits could go. There’s a handful of Tennessee transfer commits who are not listed but are also draft risks including Wright State outfielder Andrew Duncan, Baylor shortstop Travis Sanders, FIU infielder Mario Trivella and Clemson right-handed pitcher Hayden Simmerson.
Taking a look at the mock drafts and draft rankings here.
More From RTI: Clemson Transfer Pitcher Commits To Tennessee Baseball
Current Tennessee player. Tennessee transfer commit. Tennessee high school signee
Mock Drafts
ESPN Two-Round Mock Draft
- LHP/OF Jared Grindlinger — No. 11 to Kansas City
- OF Trevor Condon — No. 14 to Miami
- RHP Tegan Kuhns — No. 34 to Pittsburgh
- RHP Kaiden McCarthy — No. 51 to Pittsburgh
The Athletic One-Round Mock Draft
- LHP/OF Jared Grindlinger — No. 11 to Baltimore
- RHP Tegan Kuhns — No. 24 to Seattle
CBS One-Round Mock Draft
- LHP/OF Jared Grindlinger — No. 18 to Cincinnati
Prospect Rankings
MLB Pipeline Top 250
- OF Trevor Condon — No. 13
- LHP/OF Jared Grindlinger — No. 16
- RHP Tegan Kuhns — No. 25
- RHP Kaiden McCarthy — No. 61
- RHP/SS Cole Koeninger — No. 99
- SS Jack Dugan — No. 106
- C Sean Dunlap — No. 124
- RHP Shawn Sullivan — No. 132
- RHP Tyler Putnam — No. 139
- RHP Gary Morse — No. 141
- 3B/OF Henry Ford — No. 148
- LHP Jake McCoy — No. 152
- C/OF Garrett Wright — No. 190
- RHP Cannon Grant — No. 212
- RHP Bo Rhudy — No. 219
- LHP Ricky Ojeda — No. 243
ESPN Top 250
- LHP/OF Jared Grindlinger — No. 11
- OF Trevor Condon — No. 16
- RHP Tegan Kuhns — No. 32
- C Sean Dunlap — No. 49
- RHP Kaiden McCarthy — No. 52
- RHP Gary Morse — No. 98
- RHP/SS Cole Koeninger — No. 107
- SS Jack Dugan — No. 109
- RHP Tyler Putnam — No. 112
- RHP Cannon Grant — No. 125
- 1B Cody Boshell — No. 142
- LHP Jake McCoy — No. 156
- C/OF Garrett Wright — No. 162
- 3B/OF Henry Ford — No. 183
- RHP Bo Rhudy — No. 201
Perfect Game Top 400
- LHP/OF Jared Grindlinger — No. 16
- OF Trevor Condon — No. 29
- RHP Tegan Kuhns — No. 50
- RHP Kaiden McCarthy — No. 51
- RHP/SS Cole Koeninger — No. 62
- C Sean Dunlap — No. 68
- 3B/OF Henry Ford — No. 134
- 1B/OF AJ Curry — No. 153
- RHP Cannon Grant — No. 176
- RHP Tyler Putnam — No. 190
- SS Jack Dugan — No. 201
- LHP Jake McCoy — No. 227
- RHP Shawn Sullivan — No. 231
- RHP Gary Morse — No. 241
- LHP Ricky Ojeda — No. 251
- RHP Bo Rhudy 255
- SS Jaxson Wood — No. 262
- C/OF Garrett Wright — No. 269
- LHP Brandon Arvidson — No. 274
- SS Manny Marin — No. 375
- OF Reese Chapman — No. 386
- LHP Drew Christine — No. 387
Sissy arrived at The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee in 2000, where caretakers began monitoring and managing her osteoarthritis. Sanctuary leaders said a recent progression of the disease caused what they described as “clear signs” of pain and swelling in her right wrist.
JACKSON, Tenn. (WBBJ) – The Tennessee Highway Patrol held an open house Thursday at the THP Jackson District Office in West Madison County for those interested in becoming a state trooper.
Attendees had the opportunity to learn about the various operations of the THP and the roles the department offers.
Trooper Tiffanie Williams said the career comes with competitive benefits and a sense of community responsibility.
“What makes us a good career choice is, one, base your retirement plan is pretty good, your benefits are pretty good. Also, just giving back to the community — we kind of hold ourselves to a higher standard,” Williams said.
For more information about the Tennessee Highway Patrol and how to get involved, click here.
Copyright 2026 WBBJ. All rights reserved.
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