Southern Middle TN Today News with Tom Price 7-1-26

WKOM/WKRM Radio

Southern Middle Tennessee Today

News Copy for July 1, 2026

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

Teen Dies in Spring Hill Accident (MauryCountySource)

A 15-year-old girl died after the electric scooter she was riding was struck by a vehicle in Spring Hill early Saturday morning, according to WKRN. 

The crash occurred along Highway 31 South, just beneath the ramp to the GM plant, on Saturday, June 27, according to the Spring Hill Police Department. Officers arrived on scene and immediately began performing CPR on the teenager.

Authorities told WKRN the teen was riding her e-scooter southbound on Highway 31 — where the posted speed limit is 55 mph — when she was struck from behind by a Nissan Rogue driven by a 47-year-old Lebanon woman. The circumstances surrounding the collision remain under investigation, including the exact position of the scooter on the roadway at the time of impact. No arrests have been made in connection with the crash.

Leaders Comment on Unemployment Rate (MSM)

According to county leaders, Maury County’s April 2026 unemployment rate of 6.1 percent — the highest in Tennessee — was driven largely by extended retooling layoffs at the General Motors and Ultium Cells factories in Spring Hill.

Wil Evans, president of Maury Alliance, said the elevated figure was almost certainly caused by the extended paid layoffs at GM and Ultium, and compounded by ‘a few periodic, additional layoffs’ at those facilities. He pointed to the 4.5 percent unemployment rate the Tennessee Department of Labor & Workforce Development published last week for May, after the retooling layoffs ended, as evidence the spike was temporary.

“It is difficult to speak directly to the impact of individual employers to that number… [but] because these are two of our largest employers in Maury County, it is safe to assume that has been a contributor to the higher unemployment rates,” Evans told Main Street Maury. “We anticipate those employees to begin returning to the facilities over the next few months and are hopeful this will be reflected in lower unemployment rates.”

“Those of us who have been in Maury County for any length of time, understand that our unemployment rates fluctuate with GM shutdowns. It affects every ancillary manufacturing business. It is usually seasonal and temporary,” said Maury County Mayor Sheila Butt, noting that the annual unemployment rate for 2025 was 3.6 percent, not far from the usual rate of 3.3 percent.

Not everyone was satisfied with that context. County Commissioner Gabe Howard, who is running for county mayor, called the figure a warning sign.

“Maury County having the highest unemployment rate in Tennessee should be a wake-up call,” Howard posted after the figure first made headlines. “When one employer or one industry can move our countywide unemployment rate that much, we need a broader, stronger economic strategy.”

Evans told Main Street Maury that diversifications have already borne fruit.

“Our organization has worked diligently over the last 15 years to bring new and diversified job opportunities to Maury County… to help reduce the impact when one industry may experience challenges in the market,” Evans said. “[In] 2010, when General Motors Spring Hill had their last major reduction in local workforce, the Maury County unemployment rate was around 12 percent, which is double that of the most recent April rate. Taking this into account, we feel our efforts have been successful.”

“In the past three years, we have been able to diversify and bring higher paying jobs to Maury County… We have raised the Median Household Income by charting that course,” Mayor Butt agreed. “We have been more selective and it will pay great dividends in the future.”

Baxter Named Interim CPWS CEO (MSM)

Columbia Power & Water Systems announced Monday morning a transition in its executive leadership. Jonathan Hardin has resigned from his position as chief executive officer for personal reasons.

In recent months, Hardin ushered CPWS’s Long-Term Water Supply Project through numerous vital milestones. Under intense pressure to delay, Hardin’s calm leadership, steady hand and refusal to be paralyzed by opposition or uncertainty ensured CPWS’s ability to secure revenue and funding before inflationary pressures accelerated.

Pending formal approval from the City of Columbia’s Board of Public Utilities, CPWS Chief Operating Officer Jack Baxter — a longtime Maury County resident with 35 years of Middle Tennessee utility experience — will be promoted to the role of Interim CEO.

“Having so often put the community’s needs above his own over his tenure, the board recognizes the toll and respects Jonathan’s decision to prioritize his personal well-being at this time,” CPWS Board Chair Walker Vining said.

“We extend our deepest gratitude for Jonathan’s service to our community. Moving forward, we remain steadfast in our mission to ensure the current and long-term reliability of the basic power, water and communications services that allow a community to function. We have an incredibly talented, resilient team, and we have full confidence in Jack Baxter’s ability to step into this interim role.”

As Interim CEO, Baxter will assume primary responsibility for maintaining daily system reliability and keeping major capital improvement projects on schedule to ensure future reliability.

In conjunction with announcing this leadership transition, CPWS also reiterates its unwavering support and full commitment to executing its Long-Term Water Supply Project.

“Make no mistake, projects under way to create redundancy, improve reliability, and secure a long-term water supply are proceeding without interruption,” Baxter said. “We have all the revenue and funding confidence we need to proceed with the new water treatment plant and a relocation of our primary intake to a safer and more environmentally friendly location on the Duck River. The only question that remains is whether our ratepayers will save more than $50 million in avoidable interest via approval of our State Revolving Fund loan application.”

More information about CPWS’s Long-Term Water Supply Project can be found at CommunityH2O.org. A decision on CPWS’s application for an SRF loan devoted to treatment expansion was postponed one month at the Tennessee Local Development Authority’s June meeting.

“Delay does not equal defeat” Baxter said. “In fact, the substance of the meeting tells a far more encouraging story. Officials confirmed our SRF loan application satisfies the standard of review and meets every single requirement for approval. TLDA members acknowledged our legal obligation to build a new water treatment plant no matter what.”

The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation requires water utilities to start the process of expanding system capacity once they surpass 80 percent of permitted capacity. TDEC confirms CPWS has reached 93 percent of its permitted treatment capacity.

“With just 7 percent excess treatment capacity and no other permitted projects available to address the situation, anyone trying to defeat this project is playing a dangerous game and revealing their willingness to gamble the community’s water supply,” Baxter said. “I share Comptroller Mumpower’s disappointment that Columbia and Maury County are at odds over this project and Mayor Molder’s belief that water should not be politicized. While we were disappointed to leave the June hearing without an answer, one month is a small price to pay to ensure all feel as informed and comfortable as possible before voting on such a critically important project.”

Foster Families Honored (MSM)

Foster families from across Middle Tennessee walked the red carpet at the Franklin Theater this month at an annual Youth Villages event to celebrate and honor their dedication to the children in their homes.

Maury County parents were among those who were honored. Five Years of Service Award recipients from Maury County included Donald and Dawn Campbell. of Spring Hill, and James and Amy Mayberry, of Columbia.

“Foster parents play such a critical, often thankless, role in our community, opening up their homes and their lives to children as they navigate separation from their homes,” said Brittany Farrar, senior executive director of Middle Tennessee at Youth Villages. “Our team tries to ensure they feel supported, appreciated and part of a community throughout the year, and this event is a big part of that.”

Youth Villages, now in its 40th year, is one of Tennessee’s largest foster care providers. The organization provides families with additional training and therapeutic support to ensure children with increased emotional or behavioral needs who enter the child welfare system have homes prepared to care for them.

“We don’t foster because we expect any type of recognition,” said Travis VanZant, Foster Parent of the Year. “We do it because we’re passionate about it, and we love seeing the kids grow while in our care and being part of a family [that is] reuniting. But, we appreciate the acknowledgment and validation that we’re making a difference in the kids’ lives.”

For more information on Youth Villages’ foster care program, visit youthvillages.org/foster.

Blood Donors Needed (Press Release)

Local hospitals are using blood faster than donations are coming in. That’s why Blood Assurance is offering $40 e-gift cards to all donors who give between June 29 and July 7.

The call for donors comes as the July Fourth holiday approaches, a time when hospitals must be ready for trauma patients while blood donations are often slow because of travel, vacations and holiday plans.

Blood Assurance needs donors of all blood types. The nonprofit has had several recent days with less than a one-day supply of blood, platelets and plasma. A two- to three-day supply is needed to more comfortably meet the needs of local hospitals and patients. Blood Assurance is the primary supplier for most of the hospitals in Middle Tennessee, so donations help local patients.

Donors will be able to choose their e-gift card from a list of participating retailers, including gas stations and grocery stores.

Eligible type O donors can earn even more through Blood Assurance’s Hero Club, including a $50 gift card for double red cell donations. That means O donors could receive up to $90 for one double red cell donation during the June 29-July 7 promotion.

O-negative blood can be used for emergency transfusions when there is no time to determine a patient’s blood type, and O-positive blood is the most common blood type and is heavily used by hospitals. Donors must sign up for the Hero Club at bloodassurance.org/blood-donation-education/types-of-donations/hero-club/.

After July 7, donors will receive a $25 e-gift card for donating.

Donors can schedule an appointment at bloodassurance.org, call 800-962-0628, or text BAGIVE to 999777.

Columbia State Opens New Exhibition (MSM)

After exhibiting the curated works of local artists for two months, the Pryor Art Gallery at Columbia State Community College will turn the spotlight on works from its permanent collection.

“Rhythm & Form: Selections from the Permanent Collection” features sculptures gifted from the estate of David Herbert Goerss, along with abstract paintings from the collection. When the exhibition is over, the works now collected in the Pryor Gallery will be redistributed back throughout the campuses; for now, “Rhythm & Form” offers visitors the chance to view them all in one place.

Columbia State Community College has a permanent collection of art with over 200 pieces, displayed across Columbia State’s five campuses. This collection is made possible by the generosity of Pryor’s donors and the support of the Columbia State Foundation.

“We are so fortunate to have a permanent collection that is full of unique and impactful works of art,” said Tori Zemer, the new director of the Gallery. “Whether they inspire a burst of energy or a moment of respite, these pieces serve our student body year-round. It is a pleasure to be able to present them in a way that makes them accessible for the public to enjoy as well.”

The exhibit, which is free and open to the public, will run from now to July 24. The gallery is open from 8 a.m.-7 p.m. from Monday through Thursday, and from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. on Friday.

America 250th Celebration (Press Release)

In celebration of America’s 250th anniversary, the City of Columbia is recognizing the community’s rich heritage and the valuable contributions of individuals who helped shape its history.

As part of the America 250 commemoration, the City has launched Columbia250USA.com, a dedicated microsite designed to share information about local events and highlight some of the people who have left a lasting impact on Columbia. Central to the site is a special feature recognizing 26 of Columbia’s most influential figures, referred to as the "Architects of History." These leaders, legends, and visionaries represent the spirit and legacy of Columbia across generations.

To further recognize these individuals, the City has brought their stories to the heart of downtown. Decorative banners featuring the 26 historical figures are now displayed throughout the downtown area, creating a visual tribute that connects residents and visitors to the city's past.

The website includes brief biographies of each honoree, offering insight into their contributions and lasting influence. The historical content was generously provided by the Maury County Archives and the African American Heritage Society of Maury County.

Columbia Mayor Chaz Molder emphasized the importance of recognizing Columbia's unique role in the nation's story.

"This initiative is about more than marking a milestone; it's about recognizing the people who built our community,” said Molder. "It's about ensuring that their stories continue to be told and inspire future generations. As we recognize America's 250th anniversary throughout 2026, Columbia is proud to celebrate our shared history while looking ahead to the future we are building together."

The City encourages residents and visitors to explore the stories of Columbia's Architects of History by visiting Columbia250USA.com.

The America 250 Independence Day weekend celebration will kick off on Friday, July 3, as the City of Columbia partners with Columbia Main Street for a special USA 250th themed First Fridays event in downtown Columbia from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. The patriotic celebration will feature live music from the Main Stage, musicians and buskers performing throughout downtown, and a family-friendly Game Zone for all ages. Attendees are encouraged to show their patriotic spirit by wearing red, white, and blue, stars and stripes, patriotic t-shirts, or festive Americana-inspired attire.

Residents and visitors alike are invited to join the community in celebrating Columbia's history, America's heritage, and the people whose contributions continue to shape the city today.

For more information about Columbia's America 250 initiatives and upcoming events, visit Columbia250USA.com.

Food Truck Thursdays (Press Release)

Columbia Main Street is inviting the community this summer to “Food Truck Thursdays,” a new weekly event series taking place every Thursday in June and July from 4 – 8 p.m. at Riverwalk Park in Downtown Columbia. 

Located right off the Downtown District, the Farmers Market Pavilion at Riverwalk Park will be transformed into a gathering space for Food Truck Thursdays. This event will feature a rotating lineup of local food trucks, offering residents and visitors a variety of food options each week. 

In addition to great food, Columbia Main Street will provide a variety of free yard games for attendees to enjoy while spending time with family and friends. Games will include Connect 4, Tic-Tac-Toe, Ring Toss and more. 

The event is being spearheaded by Columbia Main Street Board Members Marvin Brooks and John “Tee” Davis.

“Food Truck Thursdays were created to give the community a common space where people can gather and show support for the local food trucks that are such an important part of Columbia’s community,” said Brooks and Davis said in a joint statement. 

Food Truck Thursdays will take place on the following dates: June 4, June 11, June 18, June 25, July 2, July 9, July 16, July 23 and July 30. 

Food truck operators interested in participating in the series are encouraged to contact Columbia Main Street Manager Kelli Johnson at kjohnson@columbiatn.gov for more information. For updates on weekly food truck lineups and other downtown events, follow Columbia Main Street on social media.

(Mayoral Forum (Press Release)

Join Maury Alliance on July 9th at 5:30pm to hear from the two Maury County Mayoral candidates: Sheila Butt and Gabe Howard. This moderated Q&A session with the candidates will give attendees an opportunity to learn more about each candidate and their vision for the future of Maury County. If you would like to submit a question for consideration, please send them to Alyssa at atate@mauryalliance.com. This event is open to the public and free to attend!

Doors open at 5pm, and the program will begin promptly at 5:30pm.

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

Mrs. Clara Mai Shouse Bratton Malugin, 90, passed away Tuesday, June 30, 2026, at Maury Regional Medical Center. Funeral services will be conducted Thursday, July 2, at 10:00 AM at Oakes & Nichols Funeral. Burial will follow in Goshen Cemetery. The family will visit with friends Wednesday, July 1, from 4:00 PM until 8:00 PM at Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home.

Mrs. Bobbie Lou Collins Baker, 82, a longtime resident of Columbia, TN, passed away Thursday, June 25, 2026, at Poplar Estates. A graveside service will be conducted on Thursday, July 16 at 11:00 AM at Rose Hill Cemetery.

David Houston Harris, 72, a lifelong resident of Columbia, passed away peacefully at his home on Thursday, June 25, 2026.

Graveside services will be conducted on Sunday, July 12, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. at Pleasant Mount Cemetery.

Online condolences may be extended to the family at www.oakesandnichols.com.

And now, news from around the state…

New State Laws (MSM)

Some bills that were passed by the Tennessee General Assembly in April that impact criminal activity, education, immigration and health care become state law on July 1.

Law enforcement will be allowed, with consent, to obtain a blood or urine sample to test for psychotropic drugs if the officer has probable cause to suspect the person of committing a mass shooting.

Another new law creates a registry for the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation of people convicted of retail theft offenses to track repeat offenders.

A new law makes it a Class D felony to encourage or assist someone in committing suicide after they have conveyed a desire to end their life.

The state legislature passed a law which allows local school boards and public charter schools to display the Ten Commandments and the Preamble to the Constitution in prominent locations within school buildings. 

Educators who have any sexually related behavior with certain students enrolled, graduated or withdrawn from school will be required to be reported to the State Board of Education. 

Each public and charter school will now be required to provide child trafficking awareness and prevention to students in kindergarten through 12th grade.

School districts and public charter schools serving kindergarten through fifth grades are required to adopt age-appropriate policies regulating students’ usage of digital devices. This is intended to limit screen time during school hours.

The law also known as the “Charlie Kirk Act” prohibits colleges and faculty members from disinviting speakers because of viewpoint-based opposition, protests or threatened protests. It also protects student organizations’ and faculty members’ ability to invite speakers.

The state now requires state agencies and officials to keep information related to the enforcement of federal and state immigration laws confidential and exempt from public records. Also, a memorandum of understanding between law enforcement agencies and federal officials regarding all immigration detainers will be required.

It is now a Class A misdemeanor to intentionally remain in the state of Tennessee after a final order of removal has been issued.

Local governments are required to verify that applicants for public benefits are U.S. citizens or are in the country lawfully. The state also limited eligibility for some state licenses, certificates and permits to U.S. citizens and qualified immigrants.

A new law aimed at spiking drinks expands the state’s food and drug adulteration law to include intentionally tampering with food, beverages or pharmaceuticals to involuntarily intoxicate someone, now making it a Class D felony.

Businesses licensed to sell alcoholic beverages are also required to keep drink-spiking test kits available for customers who suspect their beverages have been tampered with.

Penalties for minors caught purchasing or possessing tobacco, vaping products, smoking hemp or smokeless nicotine products were strengthened. This law allows courts to sentence first-time offenders under 21 to community service, a prescribed court program or a 90-day adjustment period.

Repeat offenders face up to six months of probation alongside community service and mandatory health programs addressing the risks of tobacco and vapor products.

A new law  prohibits companies from developing or marketing artificial intelligence systems as licensed or qualified mental health professionals.

Another law aims to protect pregnant women seeking emergency care by requiring hospitals to provide medical screening examinations, and limiting transfers until a patient is stabilized except under specified circumstances.

Lawmakers also barred the state’s health insurance plan from covering or reimbursing medical procedures or treatments performed for the purpose of treating gender dysphoria or enabling an individual to identify with a gender different from their sex assigned at birth.

Final Story of the Day (Maury County Source)

Nashville Film Festival, one of the country’s longest-running festivals, is set to return to Music City for its 57th edition, September 24–30. The week-long festival will present nearly 150 films from around the world. 

The festival announced its first three titles, each carrying its own special connection to Tennessee: Frampton, a portrait of rock icon and Nashville resident Peter Frampton; The Lorraine, Sam Pollard’s documentary on Memphis’s Lorraine Motel; and Little Hollywood, Tennessee, a coming-of-age story following the high school filmmakers of the Tennessee Governor’s School for the Arts.

Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Peter Frampton will appear in person on the festival’s Opening Night for a post-screening discussion, while Emmy-winning director Sam Pollard will join a post-screening discussion of his film alongside writer and executive producer Alvin D. Hall.

Learn more at www.nashvillefilmfestival.org.