Southern Middle TN Today News with Tom Price 8-18-26
- Tom Price
- 1 day ago
- 14 min read
WKOM/WKRM Radio
Southern Middle Tennessee Today
News Copy for August 18, 2026
All news stories are aggregated from various sources and modified for time and content. Original sources are cited.
We start with local news…
City Completes Historic Roadway Investment (Press Release)
The City of Columbia has completed a historic roadway paving project, with 31.5 miles of city streets paved between 2025 and 2026, the most miles paved during any two year period in Columbia’s history.
The $5.7 million project, approved by the Columbia City Council, improved streets throughout Columbia and addressed roadway maintenance needs across the city.
“This project reflects thoughtful planning and responsible stewardship of taxpayer dollars,” said Mayor Chaz Molder. “These improvements make a meaningful difference for residents across our city and demonstrate our commitment to maintaining the infrastructure that supports our community.”
Before paving began, the City took a strategic, data-driven approach to identifying roadway needs. High-definition video and machine-learning technology were used to evaluate pavement conditions across the city, providing City Council and staff with reliable information to establish paving priorities.
“Having a comprehensive view of our street conditions allowed us to focus resources where improvements were needed most,” said City Engineer Glenn Harper. “This information helped us make informed decisions and maximize the impact of the paving project.”
Vice Mayor Randy McBroom emphasized the lasting impact of the completed project on Columbia’s infrastructure.
“We are proud to see this historic paving project completed,” said Vice Mayor Randy McBroom. “The scope of this project represents a significant accomplishment for Columbia and will provide lasting benefits for residents throughout our community.”
The completed project reflects the City’s continued commitment to responsible, informed decision making and investing in Columbia’s infrastructure for the future.
Columbia State and Franklin Fire Forge Alliance (Press Release)
Columbia State Community College and the Franklin Fire Department officially celebrated a new partnership on Aug. 4 with a signing ceremony at the college's Williamson Campus, formalizing an agreement that expands emergency medical technician training and strengthens the region's public safety workforce.
Through the partnership, Columbia State's Workforce and Continuing Education Division will serve as the approved educational sponsor for an EMT Level I training program in collaboration with the Franklin Fire Department. The program will train current and future firefighters employed by the FFD.
The agreement builds upon a longstanding relationship between Columbia State and the city of Franklin while creating new opportunities for workforce development and career preparation.
“A couple of years ago, President Smith and her cabinet created a new division at Columbia State, and it had a simple but really important purpose, and that was to build partnerships that strengthen our college and the communities around it that we serve,” said Dr. Kevin Ratliff, Columbia State vice president for partnerships, Workforce and southern campuses. “What we're doing here is really a great example of that vision in action. After an initial meeting with the Franklin Fire Department, we quickly found common ground and shared commitment to achieving the same goal. And that kind of collaboration is really only possible when there's really a strong trust and a mutual respect and appreciation between those organizations. I'm really proud of that. This agreement that we're pulling together really reflects both of those things, and we look forward to working with the FFD in the years to come.”
Franklin Fire Chief Glenn Johnson reflected on his personal history with Columbia State, while also pointing to how this program will impact the community both now and in the future.
“This day has been a long time coming,” Johnson said. “I got my EMT certification at Columbia State in 1995, so I've been around for a while, and you know we've taken opportunities to work together, and we're just slowly laying the foundation. By strengthening the relationship between Franklin Fire Department, Columbia State and Williamson County Schools, we are building a better future for our younger generations today by some of the partnerships that we're creating and creating opportunities for them to have a career, to live, stay and work in the community they grew up in.”
Franklin City Administrator Eric Stuckey said the agreement demonstrates the value of collaboration among educational institutions and local government.
“Public service is a calling, and connecting students to opportunities to serve and help build a great community like Franklin is really special,” Stuckey said. “We really value the partnerships that have developed over the years with Williamson County Schools, with Columbia State and you see that continuum. And we want to continue to build those skills.”
Franklin Mayor Ken Moore praised Columbia State's responsiveness to workforce needs throughout the region.
“Columbia State is making a difference in our community and building great students and great leaders,” Moore said. “And I just want to say how responsive Columbia State is to the needs of our community. If we identify a need in our community for additional training or whatever it may be, Columbia State is quick to respond, and I always appreciate that.”
Dr. Janet F. Smith, Columbia State president, said the agreement shows the power of organizations working together to create opportunities that benefit future generations.
“The City of Franklin has been a valued partner of Columbia State for many years and was instrumental in the development of this beautiful campus,” Smith said. “Our partnership has grown and strengthened as we have worked together to expand educational opportunities and meet the workforce needs of Franklin and Williamson County. Today, we celebrate another important milestone in that relationship through our partnership with the Franklin Fire Department. This EMT program reflects our shared commitment to serving our community, preparing highly skilled first responders and creating pathways for individuals who are called to make a difference in the lives of others. Together, we are investing in the future of emergency medical services and helping ensure that our citizens receive the highest level of care when they need it most.”
Molder and Hatcher Look to General Election (WilliamsonHerald)
Fifth Congressional District candidates, Republican Charlie Hatcher and Democrat Chaz Molder, are in general election mode following their respective primary wins, with affordability being front of mind for both candidates and voters.
Hatcher, the former state commissioner of agriculture, defeated the controversial Trump-endorsded incumbent Republican U.S. Rep. Andy Ogles.
The day after the election, Trump threw his support behind Hatcher in a social media post where he said that Ogles had “had virtually no chance of winning” the primary.”
Hatcher told the Williamson Scene that he has not spoken to the president, but has spoken with U.S. Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana). Molder did not directly answer if he has been in communication with any Democratic Party House leadership.
Hatcher said that winning the high-profile primary “was kind of an out-of-body experience” in what the first-time candidate characterized as a “long, hard road on the campaign trail,” which now enters the general election.
“My wife and I were traveling 12 to 17 hours a day, a couple times a week around the district, and we went to every county. It just seemed like we were one of them, and they understood that I was one of them, and [I] understood the issues,” Hatcher said. “I'm not going to let any kind of power go to my head.”
Hours after his primary win, Hatcher was targeted in a Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) email, the campaign arm of the Democrats in the House of Representatives. The ad argued that he “would be a rubber-stamp for a cost-spiking, health care slashing agenda in Congress.”
Hatcher called the claims, “a bunch of baloney.”’
“I'm gonna run this campaign for the general election just like we did for the primary. That's gonna be grassroots. I'm gonna run like I'm 10 points down. I'm not gonna take anything for granted, and that's been our recipe for success this last time. Everything has to pass the common sense test, and everything should also pass what I believe that the Bible says, what I believe the Constitution says, and what I believe the Declaration of Independence says.”
Ogles’ numerous scandals clearly made him the most vulnerable Republican candidate, something identified by both the national Democratic Party and by Hatcher and his backers, but Molder, the current mayor of Columbia, told the Williamson Scene that his new Republican opponent doesn’t change his campaign’s tactics.
“This campaign has never been about running against one person. It's been about giving voters an opportunity to vote for something that is important to them,” Molder said. “We're talking about issues that matter.”
Molder called Hatcher a “nice man,” but said that the district “is going to require someone who really has the energy and enthusiasm to travel across this district to meet with voters where they are, and to be a congressman that can be a voice for all of them,” something that Hatcher argues that he is also doing.
Both Hatcher and Molder said that affordability — especially the rising prices of gas, food and other cost-of-living expenses — is among their top issues.
“If you're driving a pickup truck and your tank's empty, you're talking about $100 worth of fuel or more, and then you got the price of groceries and childcare and your mortgage and rent, and you've got people being just squeezed,” Hatcher said. “There's people all over the district that are working two or three jobs and still can't make ends meet, and it's the same way in a small business too. We're in a tough situation here.”
Hatcher also noted investing in infrastructure, addressing energy costs, reducing the size of the federal government and enhancing food security as other priorities.
Hatcher acknowledged that some of those cost-of-living increases are directly related to the ongoing war with Iran, which Hatcher supports.
“I believe when they [Iran] say death to America, they mean it,” Hatcher said.
He argued that the US should prevent Iran from producing a nuclear weapon and controlling the Strait of Hormuz, while also advocating for a quick end to the conflict.
“You're right, inflation, cost of prices, cost of production is totally tied to the war,” he said. “We need to close it down, but we've got to do it right, and make sure we don't mess that up.”
While the war was promoted by the president as a weeks-long military operation, it has continued into its sixth month, also resulting in the deaths and injuries of numerous U.S. service members.
Molder expressed opposition to the war.
“I don't think that that there's been justification for the war as we currently know it, and I think that as a member of Congress, I would have an obligation to understand why we're in the war, and equally as important to explain to the people of this district why we're in it and what the strategy is, and right now, we've not had that from the administration,” Molder said.”
The day after the primary election, Molder set out on a 72-hour campaign blitz across all 17 counties in the newly redrawn district, including Williamson County, where his campaign has established its headquarters on the historic public square.
“We know Franklin is an important part of this district and an important part of our success,” Molder said.
Another top issue for Molder is ensuring quality and affordable healthcare, as well as addressing tariffs that he says are hurting farmers and small businesses.
Following his return to the White House, Trump enacted a slew of tariffs, including against key allies, actions which have resulted in rising costs for businesses and consumers, as well as some lawsuits from small businesses and states, and the weakening of some international relationships.
Hatcher argues that tariffs are “a tool in the toolbox to bring the [foreign] countries to the table, so we can negotiate, and then we can have fair and balanced trade.”
“Being the mayor of Columbia, I've had a front-row seat to problems that actually matter,” Molder said. “I know that people are struggling. People are having to make choices between buying groceries and paying their rent check, and right now, we have just a lot of chaos and corruption in Washington, D.C. that seems to be working against us instead of working for us.”
Both Hatcher and Molder said that if elected, they hope to serve on the House Committee on Agriculture.
“That agriculture committee influences farm policy, whether it be the farm bill that has an impact on our farmers, or also some of the federal food SNAP benefits for young children. I happen to believe that you know children shouldn't go to bed hungry at night in this country,” Molder said, adding that he was “deeply disappointed” that Gov. Bill Lee declined federal food assistance for children earlier this year.
Duck River Partnership Okays CPWS Intake (CDH)
The Duck River Watershed Planning Partnership has formally endorsed key portions of Columbia Power & Water Systems' (CPWS) Long-Term Water Supply Program, according to a recent news release.
The decision marks a significant step toward expanding water infrastructure while prioritizing environmental stewardship, officials say.
The Partnership's affirmation covers the downstream intake and raw water transmission components of the CPWS program. This follows last month's unanimous approval of a proposed water treatment facility, effectively endorsing the entire project.
The need for a long-term water solution in Maury County dates back to 2001, in which Tennessee Valley Authority identified the need for a new downstream intake.
The Long-Term Water Supply Program is designed to meet growing residential and industrial demands across the service area. It also aims to minimize environmental impact on the river's natural flow and biodiversity, according to the release.
Gale Moore, an advocate and leading voice in the preservation, as well as proper utilization, of the Duck River, said the new CPWS intake will provide a number of benefits.
"What it does is it recirculates a lot of the Duck River water, because they are taking it way further downstream ... and all of our water goes through our wastewater system, which goes back into the Duck River," Moore said. "And then it gets taken out further downstream in Williamsport. That's one big advantage of it, that we recirculate the water."
Moore added that another advantage is the new intake is located in an area of deeper water.
"You want to get it from deeper water in case of a drought," she said. "So it helps us in one way by preserving water and then helps us in another way where we have two outtakes. It divides the burdon."
While the Duck River Watershed Planning Partnership gave it's approval to parts of the new program, the decision wasn't exactly unanimous, some say.
Maury County Mayor Sheila Butt, who also serves on the board, said she opposed the endorsement.
"I will be voting 'no' today and not because I don't appreciate CPWS and what they do for Maury County," Butt said. "They have a lot of dedicated people there who keep us in water. They are my friends and constituents. I appreciate what Spring Hill is doing as well."
But part of her reasoning to oppose the endorsement, she said, was that more communities should have had a say in the project.
"What I am voting against is a flawed process that allows one city legislative body to make the decision to borrow over $500 million and increase water rates 149% in a county that has thousands of people who were disenfranchised by having no representation in that vote.
"Many farmers, rural communities and cattle producers had no representation. They are Maury County as well and had no voice in that legislative body."
In January 2026, Columbia City Council approved its second and final reading regarding the pipeline project, which included increasing CPWS customer water rates by 20%, which would then be compounded by additional increases of up to 20% for the next five years.
"Water should not be a privately owned resource. It belongs to everyone in the state of Tennessee and should be shared and governed equally in the watersheds across the state," Butt said.
"Until we make that happen legislatively, the one who gets there first, with the biggest bucket, the most money and the most influence will control this natural resource.
"The WFX study has suggested to us that there is a path to true Regionalism which includes governance and economies of scale.
"I look forward to pursuing legislation to collaboratively make that happen. That is the answer to this egregious disenfranchisement.
"Until we do that, we are leaving thousands of Tennesseans across the state without a voice. Today, I am speaking for those people in Maury County who had no voice."
With the Partnership's backing, CPWS will continue to seek guidance and approval of parity from the Tennessee Local Development Authority for their two major funding sources — $75 million from the State Revolving Fund and $315 million from the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act loan.
"We have to do something, and this was the best solution, and many decisions have been considered for our situation in Columbia right now," Moore said. "This is what we need to do. Conservation groups agree and Columbia Power has done the legwork and gotten the permits."
The Partnership's decision completes a two-part affirmation process, recognizing CPWS's efforts to balance municipal water needs with environmental preservation.
"This full affirmation from the Duck River Watershed Planning Partnership validates years of diligent planning and science-based forecasting," said Jack Baxter, interim president and CEO of CPWS. "Securing our community's water future while safeguarding the Duck River's delicate ecosystem must go hand in hand."
The project is expected to support existing and expanding capacity needs while protecting the health of the Duck River.
And now, news from around the state…
TVA Announces Robotics Grants (Press Release)
The Tennessee Valley Authority and Bicentennial Volunteers, Inc., announced $700,000 in award funding for robotics education at 187 schools and non-profit organizations that serve students across TVA’s seven-state region. A total of 7,431 students will benefit from the investment.
It is the second year that TVA and BVI have partnered for the robotics awards program. “TVA and BVI are deeply committed to expanding access to robotics education across our seven‑state region,” said Interim TVA President and CEO Mike Skaggs. “These hands‑on skills open doors to a wide range of career paths, and we’re focused on preparing today’s students to become tomorrow’s skilled, confident workforce.”
The funding can be used to create a new robotics program or enhance a program that already exists. The Boys and Girls Club of the Golden Triangle in Starkville, Mississippi, is among the winners.
“Award funding will launch and sustain a comprehensive robotics initiative serving 1,005 students in grades 7–12 across Oktibbeha, Lowndes, and Clay counties by supporting equipment acquisition, instructional materials, staffing, and participation in structured robotics instruction, mentorship, and competitive events,” said Grant Development and Special Events Administrator Paulette Ferguson. “This investment will expand equitable access to high-quality, hands-on STEM learning, resulting in improved academic achievement.”
Other examples of how the winners intend to use the funding include:
• The IMPACT Center for Leadership and Innovation in Bowling Green, Kentucky, is in its inaugural school year and said they will use $5,000 to purchase expanded robotics kits, advanced motors and sensors, control systems, fabrication materials, electronics prototyping tools, and additional competition resources.
• Loretto High School in Lawrenceburg, Tennessee, is starting a new robotics program. A $5,000 award will help purchase equipment, kits and other materials.
“Robotics gives students something lasting: the experience of problem-solving under pressure, working as a team and seeing their own ideas come to life,” said Adam Wolcott, BVI director of operations. “BVI is honored to stand alongside TVA in this effort, helping bring robotics programs to schools across the Tennessee Valley.”
Any school or non-profit that receives electricity from a local power company served by TVA was eligible to apply. A complete list of winners can be found at tva.com/robotics. The robotics program is similar to TVA and BVI’s long-standing STEM awards. Applications for this year’s STEM awards are being accepted now through September 15, at tva.com/STEM.
Among this years recipients are:
Creekside Elementary School, Freedom Intermediate School, Mill Creek Elementary, Nolensville Elementary School, Nolensville Highschool, Scales Elementary School, and Thompson's Station Middle School in Williamson County; David Crockett Elementary School, E.O. Coffman Middle School, Ethridge Elementary School, Ingram Sowell Elementary School, Lawrenceburg Public Elementary School, Leoma Elementary School, Loretto High School, New Prospect School, South Lawrence School in Lawrence County, and Westhills Elementary School in Marshall County.
Final Story of the Day (Maury County Source)
The Grand Ole Opry and presenting sponsor Humana will partner with Face the Fight for the third consecutive year on Wednesday, September 9, to raise awareness about veteran suicide prevention ahead of World Suicide Prevention Day.
Scheduled performers include Opry members Trace Adkins and Chris Young, Army veteran Scotty Hasting, BRELAND, RaeLynn, the U.S. Army Chorus and additional guests.
Face the Fight is a national coalition founded by the Humana Foundation, USAA and Reach Resilience. The organization brings together more than 300 members working to reduce veteran suicide, address stigma and connect veterans and their families with support.
The Opry will also support “Louder Together: Music and the Movement to End Veteran Suicide,” a morning event at Ole Red featuring conversations about music, community and veteran mental health.
Tickets for the Opry show and backstage tours are available at opry.com.
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