On May 22, the House passed a reconciliation bill, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. The Congressional Budget Office’s (CBO) latest cost estimate shows that the bill would reduce federal Medicaid spending by $793 billion and that the Medicaid provisions would increase the number of uninsured people by 7.8 million. Previous CBO estimates show that 10.3 million fewer people would be enrolled in Medicaid. Building on prior KFF analysis, this analysis allocates CBO’s federal spending reductions and enrollment losses across the states. The Medicaid reconciliation provisions are numerous and complicated, but the majority of federal savings stem from work requirements for the expansion group, increasing barriers to enrolling in and renewing Medicaid coverage,…
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NASHVILLE – The Tennessee Department of Human Services (TDHS) announced it will provide a $120 one-time payment directly to families in need across 15 counties through the Summer Nutrition Initiative starting Friday, June 13, 2025. “The Summer Nutrition Initiative marks another step in the department’s work to strengthen food security for Tennessee children,” said TDHS Commissioner Clarence H. Carter. “Our fiscally sound strategy will serve families by providing additional nutritional benefits to those who need it most during the summer months.” The initiative, previously announced by the Lee administration and approved by the Tennessee General Assembly, will serve eligible children…
Nashville, Tenn.-Meharry Medical College, the historically Black medical school based in Nashville, is expanding into Memphis with a new training site aimed at addressing persistent health disparities in the region, including high rates of HIV/AIDS, diabetes, and obesity. The new program, known as the “Office of Memphis Programs,” was introduced during a ribbon-cutting ceremony on June 9. It will be housed at Mississippi Boulevard Christian Church, located on a planned 23-acre mixed-use campus in the Medical District, and will provide support for students during clinical training. “I see this as a wonderful opportunity to turn the tide on and bring…
(NASHVILLE, Tenn.) — This week Fisk University announced plans to discontinue its gymnastics program at the end of the 2025-2026 academic year. The final season of competition will be Spring 2026. The decision to halt the program comes after a comprehensive review of the gymnastics program and its alignment with the HBCU Athletic Conference (HBCUAC). Fisk athletics competes in the HBCUAC. Currently, gymnastics is not an HBCUAC-sanctioned sport, resulting in considerable challenges for the university to schedule competitions and build a robust recruiting pipeline. “While we are tremendously proud of the history our gymnastics team has made in just three…
Columbia, TN – The City of Columbia is proud to announce it has been awarded a Waste Reduction Grant for a total project value of $425,200.00 from the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC), Division of Solid Waste Management (DSWM), Materials Management Program (MMP). This significant funding includes a 30% match from the City of Columbia, and will facilitate the purchase of a new recycling truck, enhancing the city’s waste management and sustainability initiatives. This investment underscores Columbia’s commitment to responsible environmental stewardship and efficient public services. The acquisition of this new recycling truck is a pivotal step in…
The following message is from Shorter College President Dr. Jeffery Norfleet II At Shorter College, we are honored to welcome 18 displaced students following the sudden closure of the federal Job Corps program. These young people arrived with uncertainty, but today they were met with compassion, care, and a bed to rest in. This afternoon we met with former Job Corps employees, the Arkansas Division of Workforce Services, and members of the Arkansas Legislature, including Representative Tara Shephard, Representative Tracy Steele, and former Senator Linda Chesterfield, to discuss what is needed to ensure a smooth transition for these students. Our…
SMYRNA, Tenn. — The U.S. Navy Blue Angels will headline the 2025 Great Tennessee Air Show, scheduled for June 7 and 8 at the Smyrna Airport. The annual event will feature aerial demonstrations and aviation performances highlighting both military and civilian talent. Gates open at 8 a.m. each day. General admission tickets are available online only and are valid for a single day, either Saturday or Sunday. Walk-up ticket sales will not be offered. In addition to general admission, upgraded premium seating options are available for purchase. These include the Flight Line Club™, which features a catered tent and front-line…
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (TDMHSAS) is officially unveiling “Promise to Call,” a new effort to prevent suicide and save lives. The concept is simple: Make a promise to yourself that you will reach out to someone if you ever have thoughts of suicide. It can be a relative, a friend, a trusted advisor, or even 988. Write the promise down and keep it somewhere close to you or program it as a contact in your phone. Share the promise with others and spread awareness of resources like the 988 Lifeline and…
Nashville, TN – Tennesse pastors condemn today’s Supreme Court’s decision to allow the Trump administration to revoke Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for approximately 500,000 legal refugees from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela. The pastors characterized the decision as racially motivated, morally indefensible, and a direct violation of Christian teachings about welcoming strangers and protecting the vulnerable. Rev. Robin Lovett-Owen, Pastor of Christ Lutheran Church in Nashville, released a video statement in which she called the decision “a betrayal of our nation’s values and it’s a direct contradiction of the Gospel of Jesus Christ,” emphasizing that the affected individuals “did everything we asked of them.…
Names of companies who took taxpayer-funded handout goes public May 31 NASHVILLE—Sen. Heidi Campbell, D-Nashville, issued a statement today encouraging taxpayers to look up who profited from Gov. Bill Lee’s billion-dollar corporate tax refund scheme. The program was included in a 2024 law that authorized the state to handout up to $1.5 billion in franchise tax “refunds” to property-rich corporations. A record-breaking annual tax cut for property-rich corporations was also included in the legislation. Starting May 31, for just 30 days, the Department of Revenue will post the names of businesses that received taxpayer-funded checks. This moment offers a rare…