AGP Executive Report

Heat & Health: Memphis and the Mid-South are bracing for dangerously hot, humid weather with heat indices near 105°F and heat advisories in parts of the region—doctors urge shade, hydration, and quick access to cooling during outdoor events. Air & Pollution: Memphis is under a Code Orange ozone alert tied to wildfire smoke and ozone buildup, a reminder that summer air quality can turn risky fast. Data Centers vs. Communities: Fisk University’s $900M “Quantum Leap” plan includes a major technology center with a high-powered data center, but critics warn about health impacts on North Nashville and are pushing for a halt. Recycling & Jobs: Traxion Materials will expand tire recycling and upcycling operations in Campbell County, adding 49 jobs and aiming to keep second-life tire materials out of landfills. Public Health Outbreak: A salmonella outbreak linked to jalapeños has spread to 27 states, with Kansas reporting cases and restaurants removing peppers as recalls continue. Nashville History: Historic sites across Nashville are confronting the region’s slavery legacy with more direct, newly reopened tours and exhibits. Kids Online Safety: A New Mexico court ordered Meta to pay $567M for teen mental health and tighten youth-safety rules on Facebook and Instagram.

Public Health: Shelby County reported four new cyclosporiasis cases, bringing the year total to 15, with most patients reporting recent travel and symptoms starting 1–2 weeks after exposure. Wildlife & Water Quality: TWRA is set to run a “benthic blitz” Aug. 10 week to survey bottom-dwelling life in multiple Tennessee rivers and tributaries, aiming to track aquatic biodiversity and stream health. Invasive/Vector Risk: New York confirmed a 4th “rabbit fever” (tularemia) case on Long Island as tick activity hits decade-high levels—an alert for Tennesseans who spend time outdoors. Outdoor Community: Tennessee National Wildlife Refuge hosts a free hummingbird banding event Saturday (8 a.m.–noon) at Kentucky Lake. Energy & Environment Policy: NRC will hold a new public hearing Aug. 13 on TVA’s proposed Clinch River small modular reactor, including safety and environmental review updates. Local Nature & Recreation: Anderson Beach on Percy Priest Lake offers a quick “beach day” option for Middle Tennessee families.

Composting in Chattanooga: New Terra is rolling out composting kiosks for city households, funded by a Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation grant, aiming to cut landfill waste and methane; a pilot saw nearly 98,000 pounds of food waste diverted. Air quality hit in Memphis: Wildfire smoke plus ozone helped push Memphis to a Code Orange air quality day, with advice to limit strenuous outdoor activity for sensitive groups. Data centers and power strain: New reporting says AI-driven power demand is causing reliability problems at data centers and pushing new projects into secondary markets where electricity is available. Local shelter update (Chattanooga): The Chatt Foundation narrowed a low-barrier overnight shelter site, exploring expansion of an existing 11th Street building with a basement plan for 400–500 people, while council members raised safety and logistics questions. Weather watch (Middle TN): Pop-up storms and high humidity continue, with forecasts calling for scattered showers through the weekend. Pollinator event: Murfreesboro’s Wilderness Station plans a free Hummingbird Festival Sept. 5, including live banding.

Heat & Climate Reality Check: A new Stacker/NOAA look at Tennessee’s hottest Augusts since 1895 underscores how record heat is becoming more common, with climate change driving rising temperatures. Courts vs. Climate Cuts: Two federal rulings blocked the Trump administration from pulling back major clean energy and climate justice grants, including $20B in clean energy awards and $1.6B tied to climate justice funding. Data Centers, Power Demand: A Middle Tennessee report says data centers are driving a sharp jump in electricity use—TVA expects data-center demand to keep climbing fast, reshaping the grid. Local Composting Expansion (Chattanooga): After a TDEC-funded pilot, Chattanooga is rolling out citywide composting via free drop-off kiosks at recycling centers, diverting nearly 98,000 pounds of food waste from landfill during the trial. Outdoor Recreation Event: Maryville College hosts the second annual Outdoor Enthusiast Expo Aug. 28–29, with conservation and outdoor skills programming. Knoxville Road Disruption: TDOT plans weekend closures for bridge repairs on James White Parkway near downtown through August. Litter Cleanup (Anderson County): Volunteers and partners reported thousands of pounds of litter and recycling collected, plus dozens of illegal dump sites cleaned up.

Nuclear & Waste Transparency: Tennessee is a top-five finalist for a Nuclear Lifecycle Innovation campus, with Oak Ridge among the likely sites, but officials say locations for other campuses are redacted—leaving lawmakers and residents pressing for clearer answers on radioactive waste storage and possible spillover impacts. Data Centers vs. Communities: A new wave of AI data center proposals is meeting “pitchforks” opposition, with Tennessee and other places weighing moratoriums, land-use changes, and ratepayer protections as power demand and local strain grow. Wildlife & Public Input: TWRA is asking anglers and stakeholders to weigh in on a statewide Black Bass Management Plan, with comments open through Sept. 4. Health & Environment: An Air Quality Alert is in effect for Memphis and nearby counties as wildfire smoke pushes hazy, hot conditions through the week. STEM in Schools: TVA is opening applications for STEM Award Program grants up to $5,000, with an emphasis on environment, energy, and economic development. Outdoor Recreation: Cades Cove in Great Smoky Mountains National Park is running vehicle-free Wednesdays through September, giving cyclists and pedestrians a slower way to experience the loop.

Severe Weather & Flood Risk: Slow-moving storms are keeping a flash-flood threat active across the Southeast into midweek, with heavy rain rates of 1–2 inches per hour over already saturated areas. Tornado Aftermath: East Tennessee saw two EF0 tornadoes touch down during weekend storms, with reports of uprooted trees, roof damage, and snapped treetops. Water Safety: Four people were rescued after a boat fire on Norris Lake near Hickory Star Marina; injuries were minor and the cause is under investigation. Wildlife Management: TWRA is seeking public input on a statewide Black Bass Management Plan, with comments accepted online through Sept. 4. Data Centers & Community Impact: SpaceXAI says it will remove 69 unpermitted gas turbines near Memphis over the next year, after an agreed order with Mississippi regulators. Health Watch: Knox County reported additional cyclosporiasis cases, but officials say there’s no evidence of a local outbreak. Local STEM Funding: TVA is opening applications for up to $5,000 in STEM classroom grants across its seven-state region, with the deadline Sept. 15.

Data Centers vs. Communities: East Tennessee towns are moving fast to keep AI data centers away from neighborhoods, using zoning limits and temporary pauses—Kingsport sets distance and noise rules, Jonesborough bars sites near homes, and Bristol, Washington County, and Johnson City adopt moratoriums while officials tighten environmental review requirements. Local Moratorium Fight: Lawrence County leaders tabled a proposed one-year data center pause, drawing boos and reigniting debate over public input and environmental/infrastructure impacts. Nuclear Waste Deal Watch: Tennessee leaders say it’s “too early” to name nuclear waste disposal sites even as the state weighs a DOE campus deal that could bring major investment—Gov. Bill Lee says any commitment must balance economic gains with environmental protection. Wildlife & Waterfowl: TWRA is leasing dove fields for the 2026 season, offering landowners up to $4,200 for priority hunt dates. STEM & Environment: TVA opened applications for STEM Awards, supporting hands-on classroom projects across its seven-state region. Weather: Hot, humid conditions with pop-up showers and storms are expected across Middle Tennessee.

Data Center Water Use: A USA TODAY report puts numbers on Tennessee’s data center debate, saying Meta’s Gallatin campus draws millions of gallons from Old Hickory Lake each month and that xAI’s Memphis “Colossus” site uses about 3 million gallons a day. Public Health: Knox County says cyclosporiasis is spreading in “several large outbreaks,” with most cases tied to travel; CDC reports thousands nationwide since May 1. Wildlife & Conservation: TWRA is leasing fields for the 2026 dove season, offering landowners up to $4,200 for public hunting access on priority dates. Outdoor Safety: A 10-year-old died after a drowning at a Center Hill Lake boat ramp; authorities say the child stepped off the concrete into deep water and none of the family could swim. Air Quality Enforcement: Domtar agreed to pay a $1.5M settlement over Clean Air Act violations at its Arkansas mill, including alleged hydrogen sulfide control and monitoring failures. Weather & Climate: NOAA forecasts El Niño will strengthen this winter, with heat, flooding, and air-quality health risks tied to the pattern.

Data Center Fallout in Appalachia: West Virginia residents near the Monarch Compute Campus say construction noise and stormwater flooding have damaged homes and shaken their neighborhood, even as the project could expand to much larger capacity. Grid & Storage Push: Oak Ridge National Laboratory is testing Viridi’s fail-safe aqueous sodium-ion battery energy storage to support next-generation grid resilience and cleaner power integration. Accessible Outdoors: A new wheelchair-accessible courtesy dock opened on Norris Lake in Campbell County, funded by a federal Sportfish Restoration grant plus local matching money. Public Health Watch: CDC confirmed a rare La Crosse virus case in Claiborne County, the state’s first human infection reported in 2026, spread by infected mosquitoes. Wildlife Recovery: Appalachian Bear Rescue in Townsend is cleared again to rehabilitate orphaned black bear cubs after a pause tied to pneumonia deaths and facility upgrades. Weather & Flood Aftermath: East Tennessee is seeing calmer conditions after recent storms, but scattered showers and thunderstorms linger into early week. Community Nature Learning: Grandfather Mountain’s Junior Naturalist Day returns Aug. 8 with hands-on activities aimed at kids and a focus on sustainable habits.

Data Centers & Air Pollution: Country legend Willie Nelson joined the fight against data centers, calling them “loud, water-thieving, light-polluting” and urging “thoughtful stewardship” instead of more industrial footprints. Local Weather & Heat Risk: A cold front has eased conditions across Middle Tennessee, but spotty showers linger today and heat returns fast—Memphis is set for triple-digit heat index values by Wednesday. Severe Storms & Flood Recovery: After repeated storms, communities are still dealing with damaging winds and localized flooding, with Tennessee tied to the broader Southeast storm pattern. Wildlife & Ecosystem Stress: “Shark month” chatter is growing among offshore anglers, with reports of more sharks around reefs and wrecks affecting red snapper fishing. Nuclear Energy Policy: Utah is weighing a potential DOE nuclear fuel-cycle campus deal while also pushing for help addressing the drying Great Salt Lake—an environmental tradeoff with major dust-storm stakes. Turbines Near Tennessee/Mid-South: SpaceXAI’s temporary gas turbines tied to the Colossus controversy are set to be removed by July 2027, extending the timeline beyond earlier deadlines and keeping air-quality concerns in the spotlight.

Storm Recovery Stress: Flash flooding is hitting communities again and again across the U.S., turning disaster recovery into a cycle of rebuilding and “disaster fatigue,” with Tennessee communities still working through impacts from Hurricane Helene. Severe Weather Watch (Tennessee Valley): Meteorologists warn more rounds of showers and thunderstorms are expected, with damaging wind gusts and localized flooding risks for parts of Middle Tennessee through Aug. 4, plus a low-end tornado threat. Western North Carolina Storm Check: The National Weather Service confirmed no tornadoes in a July 28 Western North Carolina storm, with damage largely tied to straight-line winds and crews clearing downed trees and securing power lines. Air Quality & Wildlife: Offshore anglers report “shark month” conditions, saying sharks are showing up more often and interfering with red snapper fishing. Community Resilience (Knoxville): ReLAUNCH is urging the Salvation Army to keep Knoxville’s seasonal winter shelter open, warning vulnerable residents could face life-threatening cold without warming-center space. TVA Environment: TVA donated $50,000 to the University of Mississippi to restore campus tree canopy after winter storm “Fern.”

Severe Weather Watch: Storms are lining up across Middle Tennessee and the Tennessee Valley, with damaging straight-line winds and heavy rain/isolated flash flooding the main threats; a low-end tornado risk remains, especially where storms organize late today into tonight. TVA Tree Canopy Help: TVA donated $50,000 to the University of Mississippi to restore tree canopy damaged by winter storm “Fern,” boosting long-term campus recovery. Pollinator Push: Tennessee residents can get free native milkweed seeds to support monarchs, bees, and other pollinators. SpaceXAI Turbine Timeline: SpaceXAI agreed to start removing temporary gas turbines at its Colossus AI data center power complex, with all 69 turbines targeted for removal by July 2027. Wildlife Spotlight: Bald eagle photography tips highlight where and when to look along Tennessee waterways for better shots. Invasive Species Alert: Invasive carp continue spreading through the Mississippi River system, threatening native fish and ecosystems.

Data Center Costs & Pollution Concerns: Tennessee moved to shield ratepayers from data center upgrade costs, but a gas-turbine loophole could still mean more air pollution and noise with limited local oversight. Extreme Heat Watch: Memphis and the Mid-South are bracing for another stretch of dangerous heat and muggy conditions, with heat indices pushing above 105°F before a cold front offers some relief. Storm Alert: Saturday brings two rounds of storms across the Tennessee Valley, including heavy rain and gusty winds, plus a low chance of an isolated tornado and localized flooding. Nuclear Fuel Campus Push: The U.S. Department of Energy selected Utah, Tennessee, Oklahoma, Louisiana, and Idaho as potential hosts for Nuclear Lifecycle Innovation Campuses, with major investment and jobs promised—alongside big questions about waste handling. Oil Profits From Iran Conflict: Major oil companies reported soaring spring profits as U.S.-Iran fighting disrupted shipments and drove up fuel prices. Wildlife & Community Outdoors: Norris Lake opened Tennessee’s first wheelchair-accessible courtesy dock on the Campbell County side, and hummingbird events are set at Land Between the Lakes and the Tennessee National Wildlife Refuge.

Extreme Heat Watch: Memphis is typically hottest from July 1 to mid-August, with highs around 92°F and many days above 90°F; the record high was 108°F in 1980, and humidity keeps temperatures from cooling much. Air Quality & Data Centers: SpaceXAI says it will remove 69 temporary gas turbines powering its Memphis-area “Colossus” data centers by July 2027, starting as early as August 2026, after lawsuits and pressure from the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality; the company says it’s shifting to a permanent 1.2 GW plant under a Clean Air Act permit. Water & Accountability: Metro Water Services in Nashville is moving toward possible discipline of an assistant director on leave amid a federal investigation, after a charge letter cites a failure to inform leaders that his Metro phone was seized by federal agents. Pollinator-Friendly Gardening: Tennessee residents can get free native milkweed seeds to support monarchs, bees, and other pollinators. Wildlife Conservation: The Tennessee Wildlife Federation opens its annual wildlife photo contest Aug. 1–31, with donations supporting conservation and a public vote for a People’s Choice winner. Research & Food Security: An NSF-backed India-US project awarded a University of Memphis professor $528,137 to help develop precision soybean breeding using smart sensing.

Heat & storms: Tennessee is bracing for several heat waves, with Memphis-area forecasts calling for high humidity, showers, and thunderstorms plus a marginal risk of strong to severe storms. Pollinator push: TDOT’s Project Milkweed is offering free native milkweed seed packets to help monarchs, bees, and other pollinators. Wildlife education: Ijams Nature Center is hosting a three-day hummingbird celebration with art, science, and a bird-banding demo. Local environment & community: Zoo Knoxville is highlighting conservation through community science and animal-focused programming. Data center backlash: Whitehaven residents say they were blindsided by newly disclosed xAI expansion, renewing concerns about noise and transparency. Nuclear jobs race: DOE named Tennessee among finalists for “nuclear lifecycle innovation campuses,” which could include waste storage and other nuclear-linked development. Local governance: Tusculum approved duplex zoning changes and a meeting-time update. Media ownership: Chattanooga Times Free Press was sold to local owners, with staffing reductions expected during restructuring.

Heat & Safety: Tennessee is bracing for several heat waves this summer, with doctors urging heat-safety steps as fall sports practices begin—after a Memphis teen reportedly died from heat stroke during football practice. Local Energy & Waste: Nashville’s Music City Solar, built on a former landfill, is generating more than 2 million kilowatt-hours, and Mayor Freddie O’Connell wants to extend the lease and add battery storage; Metro Council is set to consider the updated plan Aug. 4. Nuclear Waste Push: Tennessee is among five states in a federal deal to accept nuclear waste in exchange for help developing nuclear energy, with the plan tied to potential “nuclear lifecycle innovation campuses.” Community Thrift & Reuse: Williamson County nonprofits GraceWorks Ministries and Habitat for Humanity’s ReStore are teaming up for National Thrift Day to encourage secondhand shopping and cut waste. Wildlife & Nature: A Tennessee bear rescue story highlights ongoing recovery work for injured wildlife, while a separate report notes rare possible tornado activity in the mountains.