NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) – More than 79,000 people across Middle Tennessee are without power on Thursday night after severe storms hit the region.

Those outages were reported across Nashville Electric Service, Cumberland Electric Membership Corporation, Dickson Electric System and Middle Tennessee Electric.

Severe storms hit Thursday evening, bringing hail, lightning and strong winds that downed trees and power lines in some areas. In Mt. Juliet, police said that they were responding to several calls for issues related to the storm and urged people to be careful if traveling.

“Do not approach any downed power or utility lines,” Mt. Juliet Police warned.

These are the latest outages by utility company, as of 8:40 p.m. on Thursday, as well as where to find the latest impacts.

Nashville Electric Service — 46,011 customers without power (Outage map)

Cumberland Electric Membership Corporation — 12,988 customers without power (Outage map)

Dickson Electric Service — 8,054 customers impacted (Outage map)

Middle Tennessee Electric — 11,772 customers impacted (Outage map)

The Tennessee General Assembly passed House Bill 1446, known as the Recognizing Judea and Samaria Act, sending the measure to the governor’s desk as part of an effort to standardize terminology in state government communications, the National Association of Christian Lawmakers (NACL) said.

The legislation requires state agencies to use the term “Judea and Samaria” in official materials. Supporters argue the terminology reflects ancient Jewish historical ties to the land, while “West Bank,” widely used internationally, dates to Jordan’s control of the territory after 1948 and is viewed by backers of the bill as a later political label.

The measure, which goes into effect July 1, 2026, was advanced by Chris Todd, who also serves as NACL Tennessee State Chair. The organization said the directive is intended to create consistency across government entities and align language with what it describes as established historical references.

NACL Founder and President Jason Rapert framed the bill as part of a broader national effort. He said Todd had shown “principled leadership” by promoting legislation rooted in what he described as historical accuracy. Rapert added that the group has backed similar initiatives across the country and views the measure as part of a growing push for government language to reflect “reality, not political convenience.”

Todd, who chairs the House Agriculture & Natural Resources Committee, framed the legislation as a matter of how public institutions present information, arguing that “accuracy and integrity must be the standard in official government communications.”

He said requiring agencies to use what he described as “historically grounded terms” would create consistency across state entities and avoid taxpayer-funded messaging that reflects politically driven language.

Todd also pointed to broader disputes over historical narratives, saying official terminology influences how information is conveyed to the public and taught to future generations.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) – A jury has found Live Nation and Ticketmaster guilty of violating federal and state antitrust laws.

Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti and 33 other attorneys general were part of a coalition that filed the lawsuit. The jury decided on Wednesday that the companies had eliminated competition and drove up costs for fans, artists and venues.

“Live Nation and Ticketmaster have ripped off consumers for decades,” Skrmetti said. “…They’re finally being held accountable. A jury determined that Live Nation and Ticketmaster are an illegal monopoly … a breakup is absolutely on the table.”

Live Nation was sued by Srkmetti and 40 other states, as well as the Department of Justice, in May 2024. They alleged that the company controlled almost every aspect of live events, from venue ownership to promotion and ticketing services through Ticketmaster. This allowed them to raise prices while minimizing competition.

The DOJ reached a settlement with Live Nation last month, but 33 states rejected the settlement and continued litigation.

Skrmetti and others in the coalition will attend a separate bench trial at a later date to argue for the penalties the companies should face.

“It’s been over 40 years since an antitrust case resulted in breaking up a company,” Skrmetti said, “and I think we’re due.”