Tennessee
New TVA board must refocus on reliability, affordability and accountability | Opinion
TVA, Greene County remember Nolichucky Dam’s resilience in Helene
TVA officials and the Greene County Mayor show off the resilience of the Nolichucky Dam after standing strong during Hurricane Helene one year ago
As Tennessee, and six other southern states, prepare to welcome a new slate of Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) board members nominated by President Donald Trump, our state faces a pivotal moment for one of its most important public institutions.
TVA was created to serve a simple, vital purpose — to provide reliable, affordable energy to the people of our Tennessee Valley region. But over the years, that mission has drifted.
Too often, TVA has strayed into side projects that have little to do with keeping the lights on and everything to do with expanding the government’s reach. It’s time for that to change. With new leadership coming in alongside a vision cast by Trump and our two U.S. Senators, Marsha Blackburn and Bill Hagerty, TVA has a chance to return to what it does best: providing affordable energy that powers Tennessee’s homes, businesses and industries.
The stakes could not be higher. From families trying to pay rising power bills, which seem to increase year over year, to small businesses struggling with inflation and energy costs, reliability and affordability aren’t abstract policy goals —they’re kitchen table issues. When the cost of electricity goes up, the cost of everything else follows.
TVA at risk of power shortages again this winter
And, according to Sen. Bill Hagerty, TVA’s failures are now a “limiting factor” on economic development projects in Tennessee. Not to mention the rolling brownouts we’ve experienced over the past few years — which TVA now anticipates will continue going forward.
That’s why the largely new TVA board, once approved by the U.S. Senate, should make one goal crystal clear: TVA’s job is to produce dependable energy at the lowest possible cost, not follow liberal trends, pursue pet projects or build new bureaucracies.
In recent years, TVA’s focus has too often shifted away from its statutory mission. Take broadband and other non-core ventures for example. They stretch TVA’s expertise, resources and legal boundaries. This kind of “mission creep” doesn’t help Tennessee families — it burdens them.
The truth is, government-run projects in spaces like broadband have consistently failed to deliver on their promises. Across the country, liberal pet projects like this have been riddled with cost overruns, low participation rates and disappointing results. They sound good on paper, but in reality, they waste taxpayer dollars and crowd out private providers that can do the job better and faster — all why putting the taxpayer on the long-term hook for repairs, upgrades and other network needs.
Tennessee’s Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) funding decisions offer a cautionary tale. Every state will receive federal funds to expand broadband access, but states must decide how those funds are spent. Here in Tennessee, the right choice is to prioritize free-market solutions that empower private providers to compete and innovate — not to expand the footprint of government-run networks that history tells us are unsustainable.
When TVA stays in its lane, Tennessee prospers
The same principle should guide TVA. The board’s first responsibility should be to the ratepayers – the people of Tennessee who depend on consistent, affordable electricity. That means ensuring every decision made under this new leadership passes a simple test: Does it make energy more reliable and affordable for the people TVA serves? If not, it’s the wrong direction.
Trump’s new nominees have an opportunity – and a responsibility – to restore trust and accountability at TVA. The Senate’s confirmation of these nominees for TVA’s board is a chance to chart a new course for one of Tennessee’s and the larger region’s most influential institutions.
We need board members who will roll up their sleeves, hold the agency accountable and keep TVA focused on what matters: energy independence, affordability and service to the people who actually pay the bills.
With new leadership and renewed focus, it can once again become a model of what government should be – limited, accountable and working for the people.
Walter Blanks Jr. serves as executive director of Black Americans United for Tennessee.
Tennessee
How to avoid traffic and beat the crowds: In-N-Out Burger opening first Tennessee locations
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) – In-N-Out Burger will open its first two Tennessee locations Wednesday morning in Antioch and Lebanon, with a third location opening Friday in Murfreesboro as the California chain expands into Middle Tennessee.
Both Wednesday locations will open at 10 a.m., with officials expecting crowds large enough to back up traffic onto I-40. The restaurants each have one drive-thru lane and about 100 seats for customers.
In-N-Out’s first Tennessee locations to open in December
Lebanon officials expect the opening to make In-N-Out a regional destination instead of just a local restaurant. People from across the state and as far away as Mississippi and Arkansas have said they’re making the drive to try a Double-Double burger and Animal Style fries.
Sarah Haston, Lebanon Economic and Community Development Director, said the excitement has been palpable among local officials as the opening approaches.
“We are thrilled,” Haston said. “We take so much pride in being one of the first to open. This is a good time for Lebanon and we are expecting to shine through it.”
In-N-Out has purchased extra land near both locations to accommodate long lines of cars waiting in line. The Lebanon lot has space for 806 cars and includes bathrooms for people waiting.
The restaurant has hired a private traffic management company that will use large signs and personnel to direct traffic flow. In-N-Out has been working with police on traffic plans for the past four months.
“We feel like we have really put a lot of effort into it,” Haston said. “Kudos to In-N-Out and their team. They’ve really put a lot of thought into it, and they have people that are trained for this. People that are specific to opening locations.”
The Lebanon location sits close to the I-40 interchange, raising concerns about traffic backing up onto the highway. Haston said they’ve added more turn lanes, traffic lights and other measures to mitigate the issue.
For drivers trying to avoid the congestion, Haston recommended using different entry and exit ramps for the highway and taking routes that avoid the South Hartmann Drive area.
Officials expect the busy area around the Lebanon location to remain congested for several weeks after opening. For customers willing to wait to try In-N-Out, officials suggest visiting after the initial crowds subside in a couple of weeks.
Copyright 2025 WSMV. All rights reserved.
Tennessee
Reporter Provides Key Information During Tennessee Vols Defensive Coordinator Search
The Tennessee Volunteers have the chance to make some big-time moves in the month of December, as they are looking to make a decision that can impact the future of the defense in a positive way.
Former Tennessee defensive coordinator Tim Banks, that Monday as the DC for the Vols, but he would close the day off the staff. This is due to a decision that was made by Josh Heupel and others to part ways with the long-term DC for the Vols. Fans were calling for this decision on both social media and in real life, as fans even went as far as painting the rock and putting “Fire Tim Banks” on it.
After this was made official, fans started to speculate on what’s next for the Vols with the defensive coordinator opening. They started naming options and timelines, but since then more information has been revealed by a reliable source. Here is what was said.
Chris Low Confirms Some Details
“Would expect this one to be done pretty quickly. Vols made Banks one of the highest-paid DCs a year ago and will be willing to pay big money again,” said Chris Low.
This is good news as fans are hopeful that the Vols will go for a quality-based choice and try their hardest to land a top defensive coordinator in college football. There have been multiple names that have been thrown around, and some are among the best in the nation. Others may have to prove a bit to the fanbase. All of the names that have been released as possible options seem to be additions outside the current staff, except for one coach who could also be promoted.
That coach is William Inge, who has been named as the interim defensive coordinator for the Tennessee Volunteers for their game against the Illinois Fighting Illini. The other question has been, “Will Josh Heupel make an addition with someone he has had ties to?”
If that’s the case, then there is a chance that the Vols shoot their shot with Ryan Walters. Walters is the current defensive coordinator for the Washington Huskies and has been improving with that program. He is a former staff member who was on the opposite side of the football coaching staff from Josh Heupel. Heupel was the offensive coordinator while Walters served as a co-defensive coordinator.
Make sure to stay tuned with Vols on SI.
More Vols News
Tennessee
Whataburger closing four Middle Tennessee restaurants. When and where
Whataburger has announced plans to close four of its 24 Middle Tennessee restaurants less than four years after returning to the region.
Restaurants that are closing Dec. 15 are:
- Mt. Juliet: 11190 Lebanon Road
- Murfreesboro: 1924 Memorial Boulevard
- Clarksville: 791 North 2nd Street
- Clarksville: 1602 Haynes Street
“We regularly conduct a business review of our locations to maximize opportunities for growth and keep Whataburger strong in the communities we serve. In a few cases that means closing restaurants,” according to a company statement.
The decision to close the four restaurants “helps focus our efforts where we can make the biggest impact,” the company stated.
The Mt. Juliet restaurant opened on July 9, 2024 at the southeast corner of Lebanon Road and North Mt. Juliet Road.
Whataburger also has a restaurant on Rutland Drive in Mt. Juliet and two restaurants in neighboring Lebanon in Wilson County.
Lineberry Properties is the property landlord for the Mt. Juliet restaurant that will close.
The lease is for 15 years. Mark Lineberry of Lineberry Properties expects Whataburger’s broker to sublease the property.
Whataburger plans to continue opening new restaurants in the Nashville area that includes a location off Gallatin Avenue in Nashville in the coming months.
Whataburger returned to the Nashville area for the first time since the 1970s with a restaurant in Hermitage in January 2022.
Reach Andy Humbles at ahumbles@tennessean.com.
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