Southern Middle TN Today News with Tom Price 11-2-26

WKOM/WKRM Radio

Southern Middle Tennessee Today

News Copy for November 2, 2026

All news stories are aggregated from various sources and modified for time and content. Original sources are cited.

We start with local news…

Mt. Pleasant Receives State Grant (Press Release)

 Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee and Deputy Gov. and Department of Economic and Community Development (TNECD) Commissioner Stuart C. McWhorter announced the 14 Tennessee Main Street and Tennessee Downtowns communities that are recipients of Downtown Improvement Grants (DIGs).

“Our rural communities are the backbone of our economy, and I’m proud to take part in announcing these grants,” said Gov. Lee. “I'm grateful for local leaders who care deeply about their communities and look forward to seeing the investments they make to ensure all of Tennessee can flourish.”

More than $3.9 million in Rural Economic Opportunity funding is being awarded to improve structures in Tennessee Downtowns and Main Street communities. Grants were awarded to organizations that illustrated the need for improvements and the ability to execute an effective design plan for building facades, wayfinding signage, gateways and streetscapes. As part of the program, each new grant recipient will be required to match 25% of the funding received.

“Vibrant downtowns do not happen by accident — they are built through local vision, long-term planning and collaboration. These grants will help 14 communities turn that vision into visible progress by revitalizing the places where residents gather, businesses grow and visitors experience what makes each community unique,” said Deputy Gov. and Commissioner McWhorter. “We are proud to partner with local leaders as they strengthen their downtowns and build even stronger local economies across Tennessee.”

Communities receiving Downtown Improvement Grants within our listening area include:

• Centerville, Hickman County, $300,000

• Mount Pleasant, Maury County, $325,000

“We are very excited for these 14 communities who have taken steps to give their residents and visitors a better Tennessee experience,” said TNECD Main Street Director Kim Parks. “Our state’s downtowns possess some of the best hospitality and character of any across the country.”

To be eligible for a Downtown Improvement Grant, communities had to submit an application and be a designated Tennessee Downtowns or Tennessee Main Street community. To learn more about the Downtown Improvement Grant Program, visit the website https://www.tn.gov/ecd.

CSCC Hosts AI Conference and Opens 2nd Floor SRTC (Press Release)

Columbia State Community College’s Workforce and Continuing Education Division, alongside the Business and Technology Division, recently hosted the Artificial Intelligence for Small Business conference. The one-day event was held to help entrepreneurs, business owners and professionals learn how to leverage AI to streamline operations, strengthen marketing efforts and improve productivity.

The event’s keynote address was given by Dr. Jesse Spencer-Smith, Vanderbilt University Data Science director and chief data scientist, and Artificial Intelligence master's degree program director, among other roles. He spoke about advanced AI usage, including utilizing AI agents to tailor information outputs for specific businesses and organizations.

“I hope you learned a bit more of how to use AI,” Spencer-Smith said. “Because for the vast majority of people it tends to be kind of a mystery, and that's okay, but it's an important technology. And this is going to be driving a lot of the way that we can do work, and it can improve how we do work, and center people so we can do work that's even more interesting.”

Dr. Alexander Melendez, Columbia State instructor of Computer Information Technology, and Marvin Johnson, Columbia State program director and assistant professor of Computer Information Technology, shared a two-part lecture about how to generate better and more accurate results from AI chatbots through prompt engineering.

Following the opening lectures, breakout sessions were hosted where attendees could get hands-on experience and learn about topics relevant to their particular business interests.

Sessions featured topics including:

• AI Agent Skills Explained

• AI-Powered Marketing for Your Business

• Solving Business Problems Using AI

• Vibe Coding: How Small Businesses Can Teach AI to Build and Transform Websites with Personality

“What an incredible AI conference, bringing together small businesses to learn about AI and take something they can use with them,” said Dr. Mehran Mostajir, Columbia State dean of the Business and Technology Division and assistant professor of Engineering Systems Technology. “The engaging discussions and interactions between speakers and attendees made the event especially meaningful and impactful.”

“We are living in remarkable times, and Columbia State is proud to help lead our community forward in the age of AI,” said Dr. Kevin Ratliff, Columbia State vice president for Partnerships, Workforce and Southern Campuses. “This conference offered participants an informative and engaging day filled with practical applications, valuable insights and meaningful discussions about the opportunities artificial intelligence presents.”

Columbia State plans to build upon the success of the inaugural conference, using participant feedback to develop future AI training events and strengthen community partnerships.

To learn more about Columbia State’s Workforce and Continuing Education programs, visit www.ColumbiaState.edu/Workforce. For more information about the AI division, contact Dr. Aaron Beshears at abeshears1@ColumbiaState.edu or by phone at 615.599.7193.

In other Columbia State News…The Southern Regional Technology Center — a partnership between Columbia State Community College, TCAT Hohenwald and TCAT Pulaski — serves as a regional hub for education and training to meet the needs of both citizens and employers.

Through strong partnerships built around internships, apprenticeships, program development and job placement, pathways include diplomas, technical certificates and associate of applied science degrees.

“Welcome to the second floor of the SRTC,” said Bethany Lay, Columbia State vice president for advancement and executive director of the Columbia State Foundation. “This vibrant space is primarily home to faculty offices and labs for Health Sciences students, alongside flexible classrooms and a computer lab. While the space is optimized for academic success, the views of the campus from some of the spacious windows may make staying focused on the task at hand a challenge! This is the second of three features focusing on areas in the SRTC. We hope you learn a bit about the spaces and stop by to see them in person.”

TOA Columbia Student Lounge

The Tennessee Orthopaedic Alliance (TOA) Columbia Student Lounge offers students a welcoming, comfortable space to recharge and connect throughout their busy academic days.

Whether studying between classes, relaxing during a break or meeting with classmates to collaborate on coursework, students can utilize the lounge as a valuable gathering spot that supports both their academic success and sense of community on campus.

Farm Bureau Health Plans Suite

The Farm Bureau Health Plans Suite houses a modern computer lab alongside two flexible, multipurpose classrooms. These spaces are designed to serve a wide range of academic and professional needs, giving students and employees a dedicated environment for lectures, independent study, group collaboration and training sessions.

NHC South Central Region Respiratory Suite

The National HealthCare Corporation (NHC) South Central Region Respiratory Suite features a dedicated Respiratory Care lab and classroom, equipped to give students hands-on training in artificial ventilation, resuscitation and airway management. This space allows students to build the practical skills and clinical competencies necessary to pursue employment in hospitals, long-term care facilities and physician offices.

Constantine and Mary Vrailas Med Lab Suite

The Constantine and Mary Vrailas Med Lab Suite houses classes for students in the Medical Laboratory Technology program, featuring both a laboratory and a classroom to support their hands-on training. The lab has diagnostic and analytical equipment to help teach students about collecting, processing and analyzing biological specimens and other substances, while practicing principles of quality assessment.

Library Re-Opens (WKOM Audio 1:24)

On Friday, the Maury County Library, located in Historic Downtown Columbia re-opened after a major renovation. With more is Front Porch Radio’s Drake Pugh who spoke to Library board chair Beverly Simmons…

5th Congressional District Debate (MSM)

Last week Republican candidate Charlie Hatcher, Democratic nominee Chaz Molder and independent candidate Micheál O’Leary laid out their reasons for running for Congressional District 5 in a Spring Hill Chamber of Commerce forum.

Molder, the two-term mayor of Columbia, prioritized everyday concerns like affordability and infrastructure.

“Being the mayor of my hometown has given me a front-row seat to issues… [and] to see the power of government at work,” Molder said. “I like to say potholes don’t have partisan labels… and it’s the approach that I’ll take if I have the honor to be your United States Congressman.”

Hatcher, a heritage dairy farmer in Williamson County and the former state Commissioner of Agriculture, intended to lower the cost of living, fund infrastructure, cut federal regulations, and balance the budget.

“I won [the primary] because I met people where they were,” he told the audience. “[Working as Commissioner of Agriculture] gave me a good glimpse of the state, working with… agencies, and addressing… the same problems that I’m encountering on my campaign.”

Micheál O’Leary, a pub owner with experience in local politics, stood on his independence from the major parties and promised to listen to his constituents and bring them together.

All candidates agreed that Middle Tennessee faces crises around resources, infrastructure and cost-sharing.

“Infrastructure growth is the number-two issue that I see all across the district,” Hatcher said. “[Planning] needs to be regional… [and] we need to prioritize the infrastructure projects that affect the most people and have the most value.”

“I think [the growth is] a testament to the fact that we’re a desirable place to live,” Molder said. “Let’s bring our tax dollars back home to us in the communities.”

“Half the community seems to want to slow everything down… And on the other side, [people say], ‘We need [them],'” O’Leary observed on the data-center issue. “I will be that voice [in Congress] that’s able to review the details [and notify my] district.”

Hatcher pointed to Governor Bill Lee’s investment of more than $1 billion into the state’s Technical Colleges of Applied Technology (TCATs), and to his own department’s fostering of 4-H and Future Farmers of America programs, as ways that his administration had invested in the future workforce.

“[Thanks to] historic investments in those programs… we were able to train skilled people and attract companies,” he said. “I think we’re a model for the rest of the country, and [we should do] whatever we can do to piggyback [on] federal funding.”

“Columbia State Community College has made not just our community a better place, but the entire… region,” Molder said of the state institution in his town. “As a member of Congress, I would do everything I can to ensure that we’re bringing federal funding back to our community colleges and our TCAT facilities.”

“Our trades [are] not being fed any next-generation [apprentices], unless they’re already in a union of some sort. We need to fix that,” O’Leary said. To streamline the training-to-work pipeline, he suggested restricting H-1B visas and penalizing colleges whose students don’t land good jobs.

The candidates also shared their first legislative priorities and plans to build relationships in Congress.

“What I want to get to work on immediately is to reduce the cost of living,” Molder said. He promised specifically to work to abolish President Donald Trump’s tariffs and end the conflict with Iran, and faulted Congress for not exercising its own powers to tax and declare war.

“The number one priority would be cost of living,” agreed Hatcher, whose dairy production costs have exploded since COVID. “The long-term way [to lower prices] is to unleash American energy [with diesel refineries and nuclear plants].”

When asked about President Donald Trump’s tariffs, O’Leary criticized them along with Trump’s other policies and behavior.

“We pay the brunt of it when a tariff is implemented on a product,” he said. “[And] it makes no sense… how our president behaves when somebody offends him… He had some great ideas… [but] how he’s implementing them… makes no sense to me.”

“It’s causing costs to go up at a time when people are hurting, and we’re using them the wrong way,” Molder agreed, claiming that some Tennessee industries lost nine- and ten-figure amounts to tariffs in 2025. “I was speaking to a local CEO… [who] told me that he has to create a separate profit and loss statement that depends on whether the tariffs stick or not.”

Hatcher defended the strategic use of tariffs, both to protect American industries and to force trade partners to negotiate.

“We need… America [to become] independent on critical [products],” he explained, and claimed that Trump had already struck favorable trade deals and remediated trade deficits. “We’re the most superior in the world in agriculture, and we need to keep it that way, but we need to get back to manufacturing stuff here.”

Moderator Rick Graham asked the candidates what results their constituents should expect to see from them after a two-year term. Hatcher promised to be as accessible as possible to his constituents, and to work on his four “heart” issues: affordability, infrastructure, and federal regulations and budget.

“If one person can get [with] some like-minded people and build those relationships, then they can start to chip away at it,” he said.

“I’ve had the opportunity to visit all 17 counties three times during this campaign,” Molder said. “People just appreciate when you show up… We should do less talking as politicians and a lot more listening.”

Molder put “bad laws” in his crosshairs, primarily Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill” for its cuts to benefits and addition of $3.4 trillion to the deficit.

O’Leary promised to get citizens’ opinions on important issues before voting.

“The promises here are going to be easy to speak about, but [in Washington] they’re going to be much more difficult when you’re party-affiliated,” he said. “I don’t have to listen to party whips. I’m your voice.”

“You, the voters, have an opportunity today to think outside the box,” O’Leary pitched. “We’ve been doing the same thing [electorally] over and over again… [when] 60-70 percent of the public say [electing a third-party candidate is] the right thing to do.”

“Every day the good Lord humbles me, with a flood or a drought or a cow dying or whatever. So I’m conservative in the way I live… in my politics, [and] in fiscal spending,” Hatcher said. “You have to be as a farmer, and that’s just who I am.”

“I think most of you… probably already have a favorite candidate, but I want to talk to those of you who… may be undecided,” Molder said. “I have a track record as mayor in the last 8 years of bringing people together… In Washington, D.C., [I want] to focus on building bridges to help people who are hurting in this district.”

Alliance Candidate Guide (Press Release)

The Maury County Candidate Guide for the November General election is available now!

This is a great resource for Maury County residents to learn more about the candidates running for:

• Tennessee House - District 64

• Tennessee House - District 71

• Columbia City Mayor

• Columbia Vice Mayor

• Mount Pleasant Commission

Read about each candidate, learn their vision for Columbia, Mount Pleasant, and Maury County, and make an informed decision before Election Day.

View the guide online by visiting www.mauryalliance.com.

Just a reminder: early voting is October 4th-October 29th, and election day is Tuesday, November 3rd.

And now, Your Hometown Memorials, Sponsored by Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home…

Mrs. Shirley Geneva Wright Clanton, 88, resident of Pulaski, passed away on Thursday, October 22 at Maury Regional Medical Center Visitation will begin at 10 a.m. followed by a memorial service at 11:30 a.m. on November 7 at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Pulaski

Robert Allen “Bob” Johnson, 84, resident of Columbia, Tennessee, passed away Friday, October 23, 2026, at The Gardens of Poplar Estates.

A memorial service will be held Saturday, November 7, 2026, at 2:00 PM at Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home, with Randy Owens officiating. The family will visit with friends Saturday from 1:00 PM until the service time at the funeral home.

Pamela Sue Hartsfield Black, 70, resident of Columbia, passed away Thursday, October 29, 2026, at Life Care Center of Columbia.

Funeral services will be conducted Saturday, November 7, 2026, at 11:00 AM at Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home with Brother Rushing officiating. Burial will follow in Polk Memorial Gardens. The family will visit with friends Friday, November 6, 2026, from 4:00 PM until 8:00 PM at Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home. 

And now, news from around the state…

Early Voter Numbers Down (Tennessean)

Nearly 27% of Tennessee voters have already cast early or absentee ballots in the Nov. 3 election, according to statistics from the Tennessee Division of Elections.

Overall early vote turnout makes up a 45% increase from when Gov. Bill Lee was reelected in 2022.

But it's still 7% fewer than the number of early ballots cast in 2018 during the last open governor’s race.

There are about a dozen counties where early vote turnout has surpassed 2018. Early vote participation is furthest ahead of 2018 in areas surrounding Nashville, and a few counties in upper East Tennessee.

In Montgomery County, where Clarksville is located, about 21% voters have already cast ballots — a 5% increase from 2018. Likewise, in Hamilton County where Chattanooga is located, 25% of voters have already participated making a 3% increase.

Several counties nearby Nashville saw jumps in early vote turnout, including Wilson (up 2.5%), Sumner (up 4%), Maury (up 1.2%), Dickson (up 2.7%) and Rutherford (up 2%).

Turnout is down by double digits in many rural counties, which are typically strongly Republican. 

Twenty-two rural counties have seen at least 20% fewer early ballots cast than in 2018.

Tennessee’s biggest cities, which have historically been Democratic strongholds, have seen slightly lower turnout than in 2018. 

Davidson, Shelby and Knox counties have each seen about 31% of registered voters participate so far. In Shelby County, 2.5% fewer ballots were cast early than in 2018. Davidson participation is down 8% while Knox is lagging by 13%.

Final Story of the Day (Maury County Source)

The Grand Ole Oprywill celebrate the 60th anniversary of the CMA Awards with a special show on Sunday, November 8, featuring Vince Gill, Ricky Skaggs, Deana Carter, Lorrie Morgan and Jamey Johnson.

The evening will highlight CMA Award winners from 1974 to 2004, when the annual awards show was held at the Grand Ole Opry House.

Gill, an 18-time CMA Award winner who hosted the awards show 12 times during that era, will host and perform. Other scheduled performers include Skaggs, an eight-time CMA winner and 1985 Entertainer of the Year; Carter, who won Single of the Year for “Strawberry Wine”; and Morgan, a CMA winner for Vocal Event of the Year and Album of the Year.

The special celebration takes place 10 days before the 60th Annual CMA Awards, hosted by Lainey Wilson, on Wednesday, November 18, at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville. The awards show will air live at 7 p.m. Central on ABC and Disney+, with next-day streaming on Hulu.

Tickets for the November 8 Opry celebration are available at opry.com.