Legal & Business Risk: A former IT contractor sued Alamance County, claiming unpaid invoices totaling $157,586 for modernization work between July 2024 and March 2025. Healthcare Policy: Tennessee lawmakers are weighing whether federal marijuana rescheduling could reopen the medical cannabis debate, with physician-legislators and polling showing broad public support. Housing & Utilities Affordability: A new report flags Kentucky’s affordability crisis—housing and energy costs squeezing low-income households—while urging investment in renewables, storage, and demand-side solutions. Public Higher Ed Oversight: A new accreditor, the Commission for Public Higher Education, is seeking federal recognition and is already naming leadership as it pushes an outcomes-focused model. Food Assistance Impact: ProPublica analysis says SNAP changes have cut access for hundreds of thousands of children, including at least 776,000 nationwide. Child Well-Being: Tennessee saw sharp declines across most Kids Count measures, despite relatively stronger education outcomes. AI & Environment: DOJ is seeking dismissal of an NAACP lawsuit over xAI data-center air pollution claims in Memphis and Mississippi, arguing national security and federal enforcement primacy. Local Economy Growth: Smart Asset ranks Clarksville and Murfreesboro among America’s new “boomtowns,” citing housing, labor force, and economic output gains. Entertainment & Culture: Regal Entertainment faces backlash after an Oregon minister criticized a War Department promotional video shown before films.