AGP Executive Report

Energy & Costs: Diesel hit a new record average of $6.53 a gallon, and lawmakers are floating a U.S. diesel export ban—though experts warn it could worsen the global supply crunch and raise prices further, hitting Tennessee’s trucking, farming and construction businesses. Consumer Protection: Kentucky AG Russell Coleman says a $694 million settlement with Credit Acceptance Corporation is headed for court review, with more than $10 million in debt relief for customers tied to “predatory” auto loans. Healthcare Access: West Tennessee Healthcare will bring labor and delivery back to Henry County Hospital, with first deliveries expected in spring 2027 after a local “maternity desert.” Local Crime: Detectives are hunting two suspects after an ATM was stolen from a Shell station in Tennessee using stolen vans, one set on fire during the escape. Business & Growth: Truliance Consulting advised Lime Rock New Energy on its acquisition of Murfreesboro’s Holton Concrete Products, expanding Middle Tennessee infrastructure capacity. Tech/Transportation: Waymo will let Nashville teens as young as 13 ride its robotaxis, signaling more teen account rollouts as the service scales. Banking: AutoZone reported fiscal Q4 net income of $931.6 million.

Healthcare Recognition: Lifepoint Health’s Donna Tate (North Alabama Medical Center) and Shea McDill (North Alabama Shoals Hospital) were named national Mercy Award finalists in Nashville, with a companywide winner announced. Banking & Local Business: Traditions First Bank added Albert Hargis as vice president and consumer lender, highlighting decades of regional lending experience. Public Finance & Compliance: Tennessee Comptroller investigators found former TCAT Elizabethton employees John Lee and Mark DeHart misappropriated at least $1.06M using college resources through an outside business. Data Centers & Regulation: Bradley County faces a lawsuit from a New York developer challenging data center rules passed earlier this year, with the dispute tied to setbacks near schools. AI Infrastructure & Energy: LG Electronics and LG Energy Solution joined Nvidia’s DSX Ready program, aiming to boost AI data center power and cooling adoption. Nuclear Investment: Samsung C&T agreed to invest up to $100M with Kairos Power for fluoride salt-cooled SMR deployment, with Hermes work tied to Oak Ridge. Real Estate & Tourism: Stewart County visitor spending rose 52% since 2018 to $7.6M in 2025, boosting state and local tax revenue. Tech/Privacy: Coopertown is removing license plate readers after privacy and Fourth Amendment concerns. Corporate Dealmaking: Paramount reached a settlement with California and 11 states, clearing the way for the Warner Bros. Discovery merger. Bankruptcy Watch: A Wendy’s franchise operator with 314 locations filed for Chapter 11 to restructure while keeping restaurants open.

Data Centers & Local Backlash: A new study says 45 data center projects worth $68B were blocked or delayed nationwide in just a three-month stretch, with Tennessee seeing massive online opposition to at least one proposal. Nuclear Energy Deal in Oak Ridge: Kairos Power and Samsung C&T ink a binding term sheet to invest up to $100M and collaborate on deploying KP-FHR tech, targeting the Hermes 2 demonstration plant in Oak Ridge. Tennessee Politics & Oversight: Registry of Election Finance board voice Tom Lawless, a longtime Nashville campaign-finance watchdog, has died at 72. Retail & Consumer Watch: Save A Lot shoppers in multiple states, including Tennessee, are being told to check for recalled Saratoga Potato Chips due to undeclared soy. Food & Travel Growth: Buc-ee’s announced six new store openings in 2027, including a Gallaway, Tennessee location. Business Risk: Wendy’s major franchise operator Meritage Hospitality Group filed for bankruptcy protection after Wendy’s moved to terminate its franchise agreement. Local Economy/Real Estate: Halsey Real Estate plans to open a Little Rock office led by commercial broker Mark Bingman on Oct. 1.

Flood Insurance Shock: FEMA’s updated flood maps are pushing thousands more Tennessee homes into high-risk zones, triggering a 45-day push to buy flood coverage and raising pressure on already-strained homeowners and mortgage escrows. AI & Cyber Risk: A Tennessee lawmaker is weighing the growing threat from AI systems that can act autonomously, while national coverage highlights warnings that models can be misused for weapons and cyber harm. Local Schools & Community Funding: South Nashville’s Shayne Elementary is getting a new turf field after a parent-led PTA campaign raised $70,000, replacing a rocky, worn-out surface that parents said was hurting kids. Tech/Industry Watch: Develon is expanding its Southeast dealership network, including new full-service partners that boost equipment sales, parts, and service. Housing Pulse: Zillow data shows Obion County’s typical home value rose 7.6% year over year to $169,586 in August 2026. Business & Jobs Angle: Robotaxis are arriving, but coverage warns the biggest hit may fall on immigrant drivers who rely on taxi work for flexible income.

Manufacturing Recognition: Hankook Tire won International Motors’ 2026 Diamond Supplier Award, citing quality, delivery, technology and sustainability at its Clarksville plant. HR & Payroll Expansion: Axiom HRS is extending UKG Ready payroll and HR outsourcing to Nashville and Middle Tennessee, targeting multi-location employers with remote delivery. Housing Market Watch: Analysts say August homebuilding is cooling but not collapsing, with starts down modestly and permits up year over year. Local Real Estate: Zillow reported Loudon County’s typical home value rose to $450,481 in August 2026, up 0.5% from a year earlier. Sports & Business Spotlight: Nashville SC clinched a playoff spot with a 3-0 win over Chicago Fire, while Tennessee’s Vols beat Kennesaw State 42-9 ahead of SEC play. Public Sector & Recovery: A two-year look at Western North Carolina’s Helene rebuilding finds FEMA closeouts still limited and reimbursements delayed.

Manufacturing Recognition: Hankook Tire received International’s 2026 Diamond Supplier Award at its Clarksville plant, citing standout quality, delivery, technology and sustainability in its commercial trucking partnership. Local Sports & Economy: Memphis beat UT Martin 45-21 at Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium, while UT Martin’s Tate Surber and Memphis QB Marcus Stokes headlined a game that kept local football spending and attention flowing. Nashville Home Services Pressure: Prolonged summer-like heat is straining HVAC systems in Nashville, with homeowners warned to prep for the switch to heating as temperatures finally cool. Community Events: The Cooper-Young Festival drew more than 100,000 expected attendees despite upper-90s heat, with groups like Mid-South Food Bank handing out water. Education Access: Maryville College set a Blount County College Fair and Financial Aid Night for Sept. 23 to help families navigate costs and applications. Business Growth: Smoked Pickle is opening a Knoxville brick-and-mortar location in early 2027 after demand outgrew its food truck.

Entertainment & Business: Paramount is reportedly weighing a move out of California, with Nashville among the top contenders after the company’s antitrust fight with California regulators and Warner Bros. Retail & Local Economy: The Container Store’s Germantown, Tenn. location is set to close later this year, launching 40% off liquidation sales before the store shuts in December—leaving just one Tennessee location in Nashville. Sports Media & Tennessee: Drew Brees will call the Eagles-Titans game in Nashville on Fox, underscoring how major sports broadcasts keep spotlighting Music City. Housing Watch: Zillow data shows Fentress County’s typical home value rose 3% in August to $249,713, while Tennessee and the U.S. also edged higher. Tech & Infrastructure: New satellite imagery highlights rapid data-center buildouts in the Memphis area, fueling the ongoing debate over power, land use, and community impacts. Corporate Recognition: Hankook Tire received International’s 2026 Diamond Supplier Award at its Clarksville plant, citing quality, delivery, tech, and sustainability. Community & Philanthropy: K-MAC Enterprises’ Taco Bell Foundation giving includes $50,000 to the Boys & Girls Club of Magnolia for its “Own Your Future” program.

State Revenue Watch: Tennessee reported August tax revenue of $1.7 billion, beating budget by $54.6 million and up $88.1 million from last year, with sales and corporate taxes driving the outperformance. Workplace Safety & Courts: A Memphis family filed a wrongful death lawsuit over a worker’s fall at a SpaceXAI site, alleging inadequate fall protection and citing a state OSHA citation. Local Government Leadership: Chattanooga named Kirsten Ert Acuff as deputy chief operating officer, bringing budgeting and infrastructure experience from Lakesite. Food Safety: Saratoga Potato Chips recalled J. HIGGS Loaded Bacon and Cheddar Potato Chips sold at Save A Lot in Tennessee and several states due to an undeclared soy allergen. Business & Community: A worker co-op model is gaining traction as Earth Sky + Water in Wilton was taken over by employees after founder Steven Lewers’ retirement. Energy & Industry: DOE is seeking input on recovering surplus critical minerals from federal cleanup sites, including Oak Ridge in Tennessee. Consumer/Operations: MLGW said 13,000 customers face disconnection as the heat-related pause ends, with programs available for payment plans. Economic/Business Climate: CNBC ranked Tennessee ninth for business but worst for living, fueling debate over what matters most to employers and workers.

Prediction Markets & Sports Betting: Kalshi NFL Week 2 pricing keeps shifting, with new-user promos like CBSSPORTS boosting trading credits as markets react to early results. Housing Watch: U.S. pending home sales inched up in August (NAR index +0.3%), but remain well below last year as higher mortgage rates keep demand sluggish. Local Infrastructure Finance: Cookeville is set to borrow up to $20M for projects including the 39 Depot parking/infrastructure, a fire training facility, and road widening/connector work. Consumer & Regulatory: Tennessee and other states continue pushing major auto-lender accountability after the $694M Credit Acceptance settlement, aimed at restitution and tighter disclosures. Agri-Business Funding: USDA awarded $26.5M in value-added agriculture grants, including support for Tennessee beef processing/marketing expansion. Tech & Data Centers: TVA plans a new transmission line tied to rising power demand, but Cherokee-area residents raise concerns about impacts to archaeological and burial sites. Local Business/Community: UT Martin’s WestStar Vaughn RisingStar Youth Summit is recruiting high school seniors for an Oct. 8-9 leadership program. Memphis Legal Fight: The Memphis Flyer joins a growing copyright lawsuit targeting OpenAI and Microsoft over alleged use of original reporting.

Tennessee Economy & Energy: Gov. Bill Lee laid out end-of-term priorities in Knoxville, including EV investment returns, major road work, and ongoing Memphis public safety operations. Data Centers & Local Impact: A new national look at data centers highlights how concentrated they are across counties, landing amid Chattanooga-area moratorium and Project River debate. Healthcare & Consumer Safety: A multistate AG settlement secured $694M from auto lender Credit Acceptance, with Tennessee among the coalition; separately, a new review reopens questions about cefepime’s hospital death risk, while Saratoga Potato Chips issued a voluntary recall over undeclared soy in Tennessee-distributed products. Business & Growth: Kids Art Box expanded in Chattanooga, adding space for inventory and staff as demand grows. Local Innovation: UTC researchers received a U.S. design patent for a wearable tremor device aimed at helping people with essential tremor. Nashville Culture & Philanthropy: Nashville announced a citywide Dolly Day celebration for 9/25, with partners coordinating music, giving, and community events.

Retail Health Expansion: Walmart is piloting a pharmacist-led “Health Ambassador” role in Lexington, Tennessee and four other markets, giving pharmacists dedicated time to connect rural shoppers with health and nutrition resources. Consumer Finance Crackdown: Credit Acceptance is settling with New York AG Letitia James and 40 other attorneys general, including $700 million total with $630+ million in consumer debt relief and $60 million to a consumer relief fund, after allegations of steering borrowers into unaffordable subprime loans. Food Safety Alert: FDA has upgraded the jalapeño recall tied to Taylor Fresh Foods/Taylor Farms to Class I across 27 states, citing possible salmonella contamination affecting more than 223,000 units. Local Economy & Community: Nashville is gearing up for “Dolly Day” on Sept. 25, a citywide giving push tied to Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, with major local partners and donations supporting libraries and early childhood reading. Tennessee Policy: Tennessee enacted legislation to expand the market for plastic recycling, aiming to boost demand and infrastructure for recycled materials.

Banking & Community: First Horizon Bank is rolling out a playful “Chief Fan Officer” role for Smokey, its Tennessee football mascot, with Vol Village press-conference events and signed giveaways during home games. Local Business & Real Estate: Heritage Community Bank shared more merger details with UBank, saying the definitive agreement is in motion while it seeks shareholder and regulatory approvals. Public Works & Safety: TDOT says Chattanooga’s Main Street resurfacing (Broad St. to Dodds Ave.) is on track for completion by Oct. 31, aiming to create a “safer corridor” by widening lanes and removing bike lanes—drawing cyclist criticism. Legal & Consumer Protection: A Tennessee grandmother sued Fargo after an AI facial-recognition mistake led to a wrongful six-month jail stay. Health & Enforcement: Michigan AG Dana Nessel announced a $384 million Abbott settlement over alleged infant formula manufacturing compliance failures. Business/Media: Zillow lost a bid to keep access to Chicago-area listing feeds, with the court ordering arbitration instead. Local Economy & Tourism: American Cruise Lines and Natchez broke ground on a major Mississippi River cruise dock, positioning the city for more passenger capacity and hospitality growth. Sports Business: Ryan Reaves announced his NHL retirement, ending a long career that included 3,225 hits.

Retail Pricing Pressure: Kroger CEO Greg Foran is signaling tougher supplier terms as some stores reportedly ran out of Boar’s Head deli items, while the company pushes private-label to cut prices. Trademark & Consumer Goods: Buc-ee’s reached a settlement in two of three trademark cases, ordering Born United to pay $850,000 and stop using confusingly similar beaver branding. Small-Business Fraud Watch: Tennessee Secretary of State Tre Hargett warned newly formed companies about a fake “Business Resource Center Compliance Division” mailer charging for a certificate that Tennessee doesn’t require. Local Business Growth: Playability LaFollette held a grand opening, expanding the buy-sell-trade video games and collectibles model into East Tennessee. Airport & Tourism Economy: Nashville International Airport ranked No. 6 among large airports for customer satisfaction in a J.D. Power study, citing local food, retail, and design investments. Public Sector Backlog: Shelby County Clerk’s Office suspended in-person car registration renewals to tackle a dealer-packet backlog, affecting residents and businesses. AI, Energy & Policy: Tennessee cattle farmers are reacting to a White House move expanding beef import quotas, arguing it could pressure domestic cattle prices. Faith-First Platform Growth: ActsSocial says it surged in new-member registrations and app installs as it prepares to launch ActsTV. Tech & Finance Leadership: Pacific Financial Group named Michael Mendenhall EVP, CMO and Chief Communications Officer to drive advisor growth and AI-enabled marketing. Community Safety & Animal Welfare: A Nashville-area cruelty probe tied to interstate dog transfers highlights ongoing enforcement risks for animal-rescue operators.

Healthcare Tech: LivTech says it’s expanding its in-home care business with Alora Anywhere 2.0, adding offline capability for EVV and visit documentation so caregivers can clock in/out and record care even in low-connectivity areas. Public Safety & Immigration: Nashville advocates urged Metro Council to block a proposed ICE Public Safety Coordination Center in Donelson tied to a DHS 287(g) program, with federal contract details cited. Infrastructure: TDOT and partners are seeking public input on an $800M I-55 bridge replacement between Tennessee and Arkansas, with ground expected next summer and a five-year build. Local Crime Data: Memphis Safe Task Force updates show traffic stops, arrests, and warrants served, alongside a reported drop in total reported crimes year over year. Business & Finance: Pellissippi State and UT Federal Credit Union signed a five-year athletics partnership that also includes financial literacy and student support. Energy & Policy: Tennessee lawmakers grilled Entergy and praised Google in a joint energy meeting as data-center power and rate impacts stay in focus. Tennessee Enforcement: TBI reported a statewide massage business bust with 10 women arrested and additional immigration holds. Sports Business: Christian Brothers University applied to move from NCAA Division II to NAIA for 2027-28.

Healthcare Tech: LivTech (Knoxville) is rolling out Alora Anywhere 2.0 for in-home care, adding offline EVV and documentation so caregivers can clock in/out and record visits even with weak or no internet—aimed at rural and low-connectivity agencies. AI & Public Safety: A Tennessee woman wrongly jailed in Fargo for months says faulty AI facial recognition led to civil-rights violations, filing a $10M lawsuit against police and a detective. Retail & Jobs: Target plans to open eight new stores in October, including in Tennessee, as it continues its national expansion and remodel push. Hospitality & Local Economy: O’Charley’s is permanently closing across Tennessee after employees reported only about a day’s notice. Insurance Transparency: A national push led by AGs urges the FCC to tighten “Know Your Upstream Provider” rules to curb robocalls and texts. Local Government: Shelby County will collect storm debris for unincorporated areas from Sept. 21 through Nov. 30, with residents required to schedule pickup and follow limb-size rules. Energy & Infrastructure: Old Hickory Lake drawdown is scheduled for November to assess shoreline and recreation areas.

Healthcare Tech: LivTech, based in Knoxville, is rolling out Alora Anywhere 2.0 for in-home care workers, adding offline clock-in/out, EVV start/end capture, and visit documentation so rural agencies can stay compliant even with spotty internet. Banking Deal: UBancshares and Heritage Community Bank of Greeneville signed a definitive merger, with the combined company operating as UBank and Heritage offices continuing as a division; closing is expected in Q1 2027. AI Policy Fight: Tennessee’s Marsha Blackburn is among lawmakers and tech critics converging in Washington for the Pro-Human Assembly, pushing for limits and accountability as AI risks and job impacts dominate the debate. AI + Power Infrastructure: Hyosung Heavy Industries says it won $277M in U.S. transformer orders for new AI data centers, underscoring how Tennessee-linked power equipment suppliers are riding the data-center boom. Local Government: Campbell County commissioners will vote on whether to dissolve a newly created solid waste board, reversing a move that earlier blocked the incoming commission from firing the sanitation director. Consumer/Legal: Meta agreed to pay up to $18B in settlements over youth social media claims, including new platform “guardrails” tied to scrolling and safety settings. Public Safety: TBI warned of a rise in “Cat’s Claw” products that are mislabeled and may contain illegal kratom compounds. Community & Jobs: Memphis launched its fall jobs program with enrollment for 800 students, aiming to keep youth in school and off the streets.