Tennessee
Some kids with disabilities unable to attend Tennessee summer camp due to new guidelines
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) – Some Middle Tennessee parents are in a bind after they were told their child couldn’t go to summer camp last minute. They are now trying to juggle a job while watching their kid with special needs.
Almost 10-year-old Landon Mitchell loves to be in the water. All around, he’s a cool kid, which is what his mom, Nichole Mitchell, admires about him.
“He is a joy,” she said. “He is very social, he loves being around people, high energy.”
Landon Mitchell is also autistic and non-speaking. His mom said he was supposed to return to Camp Widjiwagan in Antioch starting this week. It’s a YMCA camp the disability nonprofit, Easterseals Tennessee, has a day program with.
“But unfortunately, we got those letters last week that said they are not able to continue those services,” said Nichole Mitchell.
The letter was from Easterseals to parents discusses a new limit that restricts camper from attending and leaves parents with no options.
“Within 48 hours it was like “you’re going to be working from home for the next five weeks, figure it out”,” explained Nichole Mitchell.
The letter said due to changes in YMCA guidelines, Easterseals must limit how many of their kids can go.
“Things abruptly stopped when the ratio was switched up with the number of counselors and campers,” explained Nichole Mitchell.
The message said the YMCA now requires each camper to have a counselor, which Easterseals said they could not provide due to staffing.
WSMV4 asked the YMCA why they made the change.
In a statement, the YMCA said:
“Our YMCA is honored to work with Easterseals to make summer camp opportunities possible for the young people they serve.
As has been the arrangement for many years, Easter Seals provides staff for their campers in order to ensure proper and specialized supervision based on the specific needs of their children while utilizing our Camp Widjiwagan facility.
The YMCA maintains a set of standards required of external groups and has worked with Easter Seals to review those standards to ensure the safest environment possible for campers.
Those expectations, including camper-to-staff ratios, were communicated nearly a month ago. It is our understanding Easter Seals mailed letters to parents regarding their camp guidelines explaining how this may have affected their child’s enrollment as a result.”
– K. Dawn Rutledge, Ed. D. Director of Communications for YMCA of Middle Tennessee
“It’s almost a disservice whenever we have to parent and work simultaneously,” said Nichole Mitchell.
She said while she is blessed to be able to work from home, it’s not ideal. She added she wishes there were more options for children like Landon.
Easterseals said in the letter families would be reimbursed if they were unable to attend Camp Widjiwagan. They plan to work with the YMCA to enhance the program next summer.
Copyright 2024 WSMV. All rights reserved.
Tennessee goes wild for In-N-Out’s burgers east of the Mississippi
Animal‑style arrives in Tennessee, In‑N‑Out’s first locations east of the Mississippi River.
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.
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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.
How many In-N-Out stores are coming to Tennessee?
During a Nashville Business Journal event in 2025, Snyder said that the company is eyeing 35 locations across Tennessee in the coming years.
How many stores does In-N-Out currently operate in Tennessee?
As of July 2026, In-N-Out operates the following stores in Tennessee:
- Antioch: 4242 Century Farms Terrace
- Franklin: 1951 Double Double Drive
- Lebanon: 915 South Hartmann Drive
- Murfreesboro: 2508 Medical Center Parkway
- Madison: 1900 Gallatin Pike North (Opening soon)
Diana Leyva covers trending news and service journalism for The Tennessean. Contact her at Dleyva@gannett.com.
Tennessee
A Tennessee woman was heard screaming, ‘he’s got a gun.’ Now her husband is pleading guilty to her murder.
BYRDSTOWN, Tenn. (WSMV) – A 72-year-old man in Pickett County entered a guilty plea to the second-degree murder of his wife Theresa Marie Foutch.
Johnny Ray Foutch was sentenced to 20 years in custody of the Department of Corrections at 100% day for day, said District Attorney Bryant C. Dunaway.
Theresa’s adult sons were consulted about the plea and were supportive of the sentence.
Dunaway said that the incident in question took place on July 13, 2025, at their home in Byrdstown. The Pickett County Sheriff’s Office paid a visit to their home after Johnny’s daughter requested that officers check on the married couple.
When Chief Deputy Steve Wilbur arrived at the home and approached the front of the house, he says he overheard a man and a woman arguing inside.
He said he then heard the female voice yell, “He’s got a gun.” That’s when he says he heard a gunshot.
The deputy took cover outside the home. Moments later, Johnny walked out the front door holding a Sig Sauer handgun.
Wilbur secured Johnny and went into the home, where he found Theresa lying face down in the living room. She appeared to have been shot in the back.
Officers searched the home and said they found a shell casing on the floor of the dining room, just 10 to 15 feet away from Theresa’s body.
Dunaway said that a forensic pathologist who performed an autopsy determined that Theresa’s cause of death was a gunshot wound to her back. The manner of her death, the pathologist said, was homicide.
Copyright 2026 WSMV. All rights reserved.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) – The State of Tennessee’s annual sales tax holiday is set to begin at the end of July in 2026.
The holiday begins at 12:01 a.m. Friday, July 31 and runs through Sunday, August 2 at 11:59 p.m.
Certain goods may be purchased tax-free during this weekend event.
“Certain restrictions apply. Items sold online are also eligible. Items must be purchased for personal use, not for business or trade,” the Tennessee Department of Revenue said.
Previously, the state has listed the following items that are and are not tax-free:
Clothing
- Tax-Free: General apparel that costs less than $100 per item. Things like shirts, pants, socks, shoes and dresses.
- Not Tax-Free: Items over $100, jewelry, handbags and sports equipment
School Supplies
- Tax-Free: School supplies that are less than $100 per item. Think backpacks, pencils, notebooks and art supplies.
- Not Tax-Free: School supplies more than $100 each.
Computers
- Tax-Free: Computers less than $1,500. Laptops and tablets as well.
- Not Tax-Free: Storage media like flash drives, printer supplies or household appliances.
Copyright 2026 WSMV. All rights reserved.
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