Tennessee
TSU was about to name new president before Tennessee lawmakers ousted board. What now?
At 10 a.m. on Thursday, March 28, the board of trustees at Tennessee State University sat down to meet William E. Hudson, one of three finalists to be the next president of the historically Black school. They had plans to meet with a third and final candidate the next morning as they neared the end of the search process.
But most, if not all, of them couldn’t have imagined how quickly the search would get turned on its head.
The board’s Thursday morning meeting came after nearly two months of uncertainty over whether the board itself would be ousted by a bill carried by Republican state lawmakers. But there was still hope for the board’s survival, this time in the form of a compromise proposed by House Democrats to retain half of the trustees.
Despite the uncertainty, the board was determined to stick with its original timeline for a search as longtime President Glenda Glover prepared to retire at the end of the academic year.
They planned to appoint a new president in April, marking the first time the 112-year-old university would choose its own president with an independent board. That board was first established by state law in 2016 under an initiative pushed by former Republican Gov. Bill Haslam.
Call to action: As Tennessee State University board is vacated, leaders weigh what’s next
As the trustees met with Hudson, however, talks over the compromise fell apart and the House passed a bill that vacated all the board members, matching the already-passed companion Senate bill.
The bill passed just hours after the release of the long-awaited results of a forensic audit of TSU, commissioned last year by lawmakers. While the audit found no fraud or wrongdoing on the university’s part, it did point to continued management issues and an unsustainable increase in scholarships that spurred housing shortages.
After board members came out of the meeting with Hudson, they heard the news.
“It just shocked me to death,” said Bill Johnson, a professor who was serving as the board’s faculty trustee.
Johnson said he and other board members received a text message around 6 p.m. from the school’s general counsel telling them Gov. Bill Lee had signed the measure into law. Lee also named eight new appointees. A new faculty trustee, elected by TSU faculty, and a non-voting student trustee will later round out the 10-member board. The bill’s language indicated that vacated board members, including Johnson, would not be eligible for reappointment. All eight of Lee’s new appointees are TSU graduates.
The newly ousted members were told not to come to their meeting the next day with the final presidential candidate.
Read more: Republican lawmakers vacate full Tennessee State University board over Democratic objections
The state’s actions have stirred confusion and controversy as lawmakers, university leaders, students and the presidential candidates alike seem unsure of what’s next. Johnson sees the move as an affront to his colleagues and the school and said it jeopardizes the presidential search, among other things.
“If you were a presidential candidate for a university, would you accept a job from an entirely different management group that hasn’t met you?” Johnson said. “We’ve got a serious problem.”
What the TSU board ouster means for its presidential search
Johnson said the board was ready to select the new president within days — if not hours — after the final meeting they never got to attend.
Now, a week-and-a-half after Lee signed the bill into law, more questions than answers remain: Who’s in charge of the board’s affairs right now? When will the new board take power? What does the change mean for the presidential search?
As of Monday afternoon, the governor’s office had not responded to repeated requests to answer those questions.
“They left us with a rudderless ship,” Johnson said.
While the board members do not need to go through an official confirmation with the state legislature to begin their work, Lee it responsible for calling their first meeting. New board appointee Dwyane Tucker said he believes that meeting will happen sometime in late April, with Lee presiding, but that a final date has not yet been set.
A spokesperson for TSU said they had received no information about the presidential selection process. Attempts to reach the other newly appointed board members were unsuccessful.
The now-ousted TSU board established a 30-member presidential search committee made up of faculty, administrators, trustees and community members and hired an outside firm for the national search.
In March, it announced three finalists: Michael Torrence, Charles J. Gibbs and Hudson. Torrence is the president of Motlow State Community College in Tennessee. Gibbs serves as CEO of the national 100 Black Men of America. Hudson is the vice president of student affairs at Florida A&M University, a public, historically Black school in Tallahassee, Florida.
As of Monday, Hudson said he had also not received any communication since the state vacated the previous board.
Meet the appointees: Gov. Bill Lee names new TSU board after House vote
Johnson, who is also a tenured professor at TSU, believes the legislature’s swift action was a direct response to the board’s impending announcement of a new president. The forensic audit’s main purpose was to find whether there was evidence of fraud or wrongdoing by university leaders. The audit found none. Instead, Johnson said it showed sloppy bookkeeping, at worst. The whole ordeal has left him feeling angry and frustrated.
“It’s a targeted assault,” Johnson said. “It’s intentional. It’s blatant. It’s disgusting — and it’s not in the best interest of the state of Tennessee.”
A loss of institutional knowledge
Obie McKenzie, another former board member and a TSU alumnus, added his voice to growing concerns from university leaders, students and former board members about the loss of institutional knowledge that comes with the board’s removal.
“In any business situation, historical data and historical information is very important to the transition process,” he said. “In my humble opinion, you unnecessarily penalize the student population because of the disruption.”
Although McKenzie has not heard from any of the newly appointed board members, he said he’s willing to help any of them who come to him for advice.
“I trust they have as much love for the institution as I do,” he said.
The state has vacated and reconstituted a university board before.
Up until 2016, oversight of TSU — along with schools such as Middle Tennessee State University, Austin Peay State University, the University of Memphis and the state’s community colleges — fell to the Tennessee Board of Regents.
The FOCUS Act gave TSU and the other four-year schools under Board of Regents control new, independent boards. Haslam made eight initial appointments to the board and Lee reappointed all but two of them.
A year after the FOCUS Act, Haslam then moved to rein in the University of Tennessee’s sprawling, 27-member board and replace it with an 11-person board. Haslam sought to preserve institutional memory by re-appointing four of the trustees from the dissolved board. The legislature, however, insisted on a fresh start and rejected those nominees.
It’s not clear when lawmakers will hold confirmation hearings for the newly appointed TSU trustees.
A mission cut short
Throughout hearings on the now-passed legislation and the former board’s final meeting last month, members said they wanted more time to finish their work.
In his time on the board, McKenzie was part of the team addressing TSU’s housing needs.
“When you don’t have solid housing when you’re going to college, it leaves you feeling like a second class citizen,” he said. “I wanted to this to be my legacy before I stepped off the stage.”
In 2023, TSU was forced to lease hotels for students when it ran out of space in dorms after a large enrollment increase. That lead to criticism from the legislature, two audits and ultimately the bill that vacated the board.
McKenzie, among others, also pointed to $2.1 billion in state underfunding revealed by U.S. Department of Agriculture and U.S. Department of Education findings released last year. He said criticism from state leaders over a lack of infrastructure at TSU is unfair in light of the shortfall in state funding.
$2.1 billion: The Biden administration says TSU has been underfunded. Here’s what that means.
The state underfunding of the school is something Shaun Wimberly Jr., a TSU senior who was serving as a student trustee until the ouster, has also emphasized. While he was happy to see that all the new appointees are TSU graduates and is hopeful to work with them in the future, he said the fight over underfunding is far from over. He helped host a news conference at the Tennessee Capitol last week alongside other TSU and civil rights leaders.
“We’ve done enough begging in my opinion,” Wimberly said at the event. “Now is not the time to be requesting. It is our time to take what is ours.”
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.
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.
Copyright 2026 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.
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.
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.
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