Tennessee
UAW celebrates breakthrough win in Tennessee and takes aim at more auto plants in the South
By DAVID KOENIG | AP Business Writer
DALLAS — The United Auto Workers’ overwhelming election victory at a Volkswagen plant in Tennessee is giving the union hope that it can make broader inroads in the South, the least unionized part of the country.
The UAW won a stunning 73% of the vote at VW after losing elections in 2014 and 2019. It was the union’s first win in a Southern assembly plant owned by a foreign automaker.
Union President Shawn Fain said the pundits all told him that the UAW couldn’t win in the South.
“But you all said, ‘Watch this,’ ” he told a cheering group of VW organizers at a union hall in Chattanooga, Tennessee, on Friday night, when the UAW victory was clear. “You guys are leading the way. We’re going to carry this fight on to Mercedes and everywhere else.”
However, the UAW is likely to face a tougher test as it tries to represent workers at two Mercedes-Benz plants in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. A five-day election is scheduled to start May 13, where the union’s campaign has already become heated.
The UAW has accused the German carmaker of violating U.S. and German labor laws with aggressive anti-union tactics, which the company denies.
“They are going to have a much harder road in work sites where they are going to face aggressive management resistance and even community resistance than they faced in Chattanooga,” said Harry Katz, a labor-relations professor at Cornell University. “VW management did not aggressively seek to avoid unionization. Mercedes is going to be a good test. It’s the deeper South.”
Late last year, the UAW announced a drive to represent nearly 150,000 workers at non-union factories largely in the South. The union is targeting U.S. plants run by Toyota, Honda, Hyundai, Nissan, Subaru, Mazda, Volkswagen, Mercedes, BMW and Volvo, along with factories operated by electric-vehicle makers Tesla, Rivian and Lucid.
The union’s last defeat at VW in Chattanooga came at a low-water mark — in the middle of a federal investigation into bribery and embezzlement under a previous president.
Marick Masters, a business professor at Wayne State University in Detroit who studies the UAW, said the union flipped the script by installing new leadership, touting the rich contracts it won last year from Detroit automakers after strikes at targeted factories, and exploiting a climate that is now more favorable to unions. He said the union was also adept at translating signed pro-union authorization cards into votes — partly by pushing for a quick election.
“Now the public and media eyes are going to be on Chattanooga and how quickly the UAW can translate this into a contract,” he said. If the union can’t quickly get a good contract, it risks losing some of the momentum it gained with Friday’s election win, he said.
Unions in other industries are already moving ahead with organizing campaigns in the South and trying to learn from the UAW’s playbook.
The Association of Flight Attendants, which has tried and failed to win over cabin crews at Atlanta-based Delta Air Lines, hopes to collect enough signatures to force another election at Delta by year end. The union’s president, Sara Nelson, said she was not surprised at the UAW win after strikes that led to record contracts last year.
“I’ve been talking about this for a long time — that strikes and taking on the boss is going to spur organizing, and that’s exactly what we saw here,” Nelson said.
Nelson is trying to secure an industry-leading contract at United Airlines that she can use to court Delta crews. In the meantime, crews at startup Breeze Airways, many of whom live in the South, will vote next month whether to join her union.
The White House issued a statement from President Joe Biden congratulating the UAW. Biden — who joined a UAW picket line in Michigan during the union’s strike against Ford, GM and Stellantis plants last year — praised the success of unions representing autoworkers, Hollywood actors and writers, health care workers and others in gaining better contracts.
“Together, these union wins have helped raise wages and demonstrate once again that the middle-class built America and that unions are still building and expanding the middle class for all workers,” Biden said.
Biden criticized six Southern Republican governors, including Bill Lee of Tennessee, who told autoworkers this week that voting for union representation would jeopardize jobs.
Sharon Block, a law professor at Harvard University who worked for the Biden administration on labor and other issues, said the governors’ warning rang hollow after nonunion Tesla revealed that it plans to lay off 10% of its workers after disappointing sales results. She said VW workers saw the governors’ open letter as “an empty threat and a cynical ploy,” and they ignored it.
“Workers for a long time have been told that you can’t organize in the South. And many workers, even not in the South, may work in industries where they’ve been told for a long time you can’t organize,” Block said. “What the UAW showed last night is that we need to go and rethink all those negative statements.”
Associated Press writer Gary Robertson in Raleigh, North Carolina, contributed to this report.
Tennessee
Everything Tennessee Basketball Assistant Coach Gregg Polinsky Said During Summer Practice | Rocky Top Insider
Tennessee basketball is holding summer practices in anticipation for the 2026-27 season. With so many new faces on campus, it’s a critical portion of the offseason as transfers and freshmen get to know each other.
Ahead of Monday’s practice, assistant coach Gregg Polinsky met with the media. He talked about the freshman class, transfer point guard Terrence Hill Jr., returning forward DeWayne Brown II and more.
Here’s what he said.
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On what he’s seen from the freshmen
“I think it’s been a good blend of guys all from different places, obviously, but we like all those guys. They seem to have the kind of personality types that they want to learn. They want to get better. I think they’re enjoying each other’s company. It’s been good because we’ve kind of been isolated while they redid the other dorms, so they all stayed together. I think it’s called Brown Hall, I believe. And so I think that’s been good, develop a bond, be around these older guys, too, but I think the freshmen have enjoyed each other.”
On freshman Ralph Scott’s growth week to week
“Let’s not just go week to week. When I first saw Ralph Scott, he looked about like me. That’s not funny? Alright, I’ll keep going. Meaning that he needed a little muscle mass. And even though Ralph is still lean, he’s put on about 20, 25 pounds. He looks so much different than this time a year ago. And we saw the potential, but we also knew, much like Nate Ament, I was just talking about that with a friend of mine with the Bucks, and they realized, he’s got to get stronger, etc. Guys being able to play up into him. I think the same thing with Ralph. More than that, with Ralph, it was a mentality of, you got to remember, he was in Bermuda. His grandfather did a great job coaching him over there, but he realized he had to be here. IMG, or not IMG, but in the States for three years, last two years with IMG. Ralph was always a guy who deferred to other people. And I think what our message has been to him is, you gotta think that you’re one of the guys. This deferring stuff is over. You are talented, start to play to your ability.”
On what Scott’s ability is
“He’s got a high ceiling. Like, he’s six-nine probably without shoes. Seven-two wingspan. His frame is great, you know? Looking at him, he’s gonna be able to add more muscle mass. He shoots it pretty well. It’s not as consistent as we’d like. Coach (Rick Barnes) started working with him on a high release, and he picked it up really quick. So you add that to his size, his skill set. He’s an athlete to go with it. He just doesn’t know how good he could be in any context of the game yet. So I think the ceiling’s high for him.”
On evaluating high-potential freshmen when players transfer so often
“Yeah, I think that’s a great question. I wouldn’t do the comparison of calling him a second round pick you take a flyer on because I think Ralph has too much potential for that. But I would say this entire freshman group, you know how we do it. We do it our way and we don’t say that with a tone of arrogance. You say it with humility, but you have to know who you are, and we know who Coach (Barnes) is and what guys are gonna fit here and work well here. But to answer you, I think that we’re projecting. There’s gotta be guys that are productive, but a lot of those guys have already come from the portal. So I think with your freshmen, you’re looking at one or two things. Either they’re guys that you think you can instantly impact what you’re doing. We’ve had some of those guys. Or guys that can grow into that role, and I think the main thing is that you are honest with them during the recruiting process.”
On how Terrence Hill Jr. will fit in with other ball handlers
“Terrence is, and I want this to be taken the right way, because he’s not unathletic, but he’s more basketball player than he is an athlete playing basketball. You understand where I’m going with that? So, you’re not gonna see a max vertical of 40 and him Zakai Zeigler it up the court or Kennedy Chandler to the rim, but he does it a different way. So he’s got a great feel. It’s a balanced game. You’re coming, he’s going. He’s really quick-handed, something that’s not talked about enough, like making a pocket pass. Very NBA-like, and that window is so small cause guys are so long, he gets rid of that basketball in a hurry. So we tell the bigs, turn your head in a hurry, right? They’re starting to learn to play with him. But I think he’s making everybody better around him, and we all know he’s capable of scoring the ball.”
On watching Zakai Zeigler, Ja’Kobi Gillespie and Igor Milicic Jr. (Spurs) vs. Nate Ament (Bucks) in Summer League on Sunday night
“Well, it was great. It was also depressing, though, because having all those guys around was pretty good. Now, it was thrilling for, like, I think all of us, to see how these guys were doing, having an opportunity to play. They all have a dream of making it or in Nate’s case, obviously, he’s locked in. I think Ja’Kobi has impressed a lot of people and looks like a real value pick for San Antonio. I think he’s gonna be in the league a long time. And then Felix, I think Felix Okpara has played well in his couple of games. So we’re excited for Igor, all those guys. I watched Keon (Johnson) the other day, even though I wasn’t here. I’ve gotten to know (Keon) a little bit. Awesome individual. Hope all of them can make it.”
On helping fill out the roster in the transfer portal
“No. 1, it’s a group thing. So, it’s always been that, even in the NBA, whether I was in a role of a director position, it’s always been the group, and it’s still that way. What I try to do is just add perspective and questions that stimulate thinking. Not that I’m so smart, but I’ve made enough mistakes that I’ve learned from those. Any of you guys made mistakes before? You learn from them? Yeah. I’ve had a lot of them. So that’s my main thing.
“With this freshman class, again, we wanted more length on the wings. We didn’t anticipate losing so many big guys, but we realized we’re not gonna have the mass, but Juke (Harris), Jalen (Haralson), Ralph (Scott), Manny (Green), Tyler (Lundblade), I hope I’m not leaving anybody out. Chris Washington can play some over there. We have athleticism, and we have length. So when you take bare feet, you take standing reach, wingspan, that’s effective height, unless you play with alligator arms. So, guys that play extended around the rim, you want those guys to do that. We want those guys to do that. So we really shot it, no pun intended there, but we wanted guys that defensively, deflections, take up a lot of court, shrink the court with that, and then offensively, obviously be able to make plays and play extended at the rim.
On the front court, DeWayne Brown returning
“We have an athletic group. I wouldn’t call DeWayne a non-athlete. DeWayne can move his feet and his hands. I tell him all the time, you’re not gonna make it to the NBA with your vertical pop. But there’s guys that are really effective playing on the ground, as I call them. Not literally, but you know what I’m saying. The other guys, whether it’s (Braedan) Lue, Christian (Fermin), Miles (Rubin), all are twitchy. They’re fast-twitch, they’re long, they can switch out. They’re just learning what is required here to do that. Because different programs require different things. Like when Felix first got here, he played in a drop coverage, which is very effective. But we asked him to get out on the perimeter and guard guys, and he did that. And I think it’s added value to him being an NBA draft choice, and will add value to his career. So we gotta get these guys to do that because we don’t have what you just said last year, we could just smash you under the rim, and walk you under there. Offensive rebound like crazy. This group’s gonna have to do it a little differently.”
On DeWayne Brown being a vocal leader compared to last year
“Night and day. So what we asked of DeWayne early in the year or in the summer, DeWayne, like, you’re not a loud guy. You don’t have to be Zakai (Zeigler) and Jahmai Mashack or Santiago (Vescovi) or Josiah(-Jordan James), guys, they were literally, their decibel level was louder, right? So we already have that in Coach (Barnes). He’ll take care of that. What you gotta do is talk to these guys. You do it in your way. You do it with your personality type. But you’re smart. You know how you’re gonna read all these personalities in the room. What’s the best way to address and what’s the best way to get them, to me, like, maximize their potential, be efficient, and I think he’s done an awesome job. Troy (Henderson) is also trying to do the same thing, just hard when you’re not on the court, but DeWayne is taking a huge jump, and I’m really proud of him, not just as a basketball player, but as a human being and a young man.”
The Tennessee Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big.
Here’s a look at July 12, 2026, results for each game:
Winning Cash 3 numbers from July 12 drawing
Evening: 6-5-7, Wild: 0
Check Cash 3 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Cash 4 numbers from July 12 drawing
Evening: 1-1-4-7, Wild: 1
Check Cash 4 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Daily Tennessee Jackpot numbers from July 12 drawing
12-24-26-29-31
Check Daily Tennessee Jackpot payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Millionaire for Life numbers from July 12 drawing
12-21-39-46-48, Bonus: 02
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.
Tennessee baseball signee Sean Dunlap is withdrawing from the 2026 MLB Draft and will play for Tennessee next season after going unselected in the first 10 rounds on July 12.
Dunlap, a catcher from Crown Point, Indiana, announced his decision on social media. One of the top position players in Tennessee’s 2026 recruiting class, he is ranked by Perfect Game as the No. 2 catcher and No. 38 recruit in the country.
He committed to Tennessee in November 2024 over Indiana, Vanderbilt, Notre Dame, Mississippi State, Indiana and others.
Dunlap entered the draft ranked by MLB Pipeline as the No. 124 prospect, third-best among high school catchers, and participated in the draft combine. He was ESPN’s No. 49 prospect.
Dunlap, who stands at 6-foot-3, 205 pounds, was named the 2026 player of the year in his home state by Prep Baseball Report and MaxPreps and was the Chicago Post-Tribune’s area player of the year. He hit .473 with 45 RBIs, nine home runs, 11 doubles and three triples for Crown Point.
Emmett Siegel covers Tennessee baseball for Knox News. Email: emmett.siegel@knoxnews.com; X: @EmmettSiegel_
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