Monday, March 24, 2025

Good Morning! On this day in 1958, Elvis Presley was inducted into the U.S. Army at the Memphis Draft Board. The “King of Rock and Roll” went on to complete six months of basic training, two years of active duty, and four years in the Army Reserve.

Did you know that Tennesseans are required to obtain a REAL ID by May 7 in order to board domestic flights? Read the story below for information on locations offering weekend appointments.

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Bathroom Bill Heads to Governor's Desk

Tennessee lawmakers passed a bill on Thursday that requires youth camps and residential programs to separate bathrooms by "immutable biological sex."

House Bill 54 is now headed to Gov. Lee's desk for signing. You can read the full bill here.

Supporters say the measure protects privacy, while critics argue it targets transgender youth.

Rep. Gino Bulso of Brentwood said he introduced the bill after a parent told him that organizers of a summer program his daughter planned to attend asked if she would share a room and facilities with a transgender student.

$90M Investment Coming to the Volunteer State

Denver-based Zayo has announced a $90 million investment to expand high-speed internet infrastructure across Tennessee, with a focus on improving access for schools and rural areas.

The investment builds upon Zayo's nearly 30-year presence in Nashville, where it provides managed network connectivity to 94% of the state's school districts.

Plans include adding over 5,000 miles of new fiber routes and supporting growing internet demands, including those driven by artificial intelligence.

Zayo also intends to acquire Crown Castle’s fiber business to further strengthen internet access in the region.

Sweet Sixteen on the Horizon for UT

The University of Tennessee men's and women's basketball teams were the most successful of the Volunteer State's March Madness participants over the weekend, with all other Tennessee schools eliminated.

The men's Volunteers basketball team advanced to the Sweet 16, where they will face the winner of Kentucky vs. Illinois.

The Lady Vols were scheduled to face Ohio State late Sunday night. The winner would advance to the tournament's third round. The result is here.

The most striking of the state's losses was No. 5 seed Memphis' shocking upset by No. 12 Colorado State by a score of 78-70 on Friday.

Other Tennessee schools that fell in the first round included the men's Lipscomb team, the men's and women's Vanderbilt teams, and the women's Tennessee Tech team.

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➤ Nashville: Multiple driver service centers are offering weekend appointments at select locations for residents to obtain REAL ID before the May 7 deadline. (See Locations)

➤ Pigeon Forge: Sky Pirates of Mermaid Bay was named the best mini golf spot in the 10BEST list by USA TODAY, which ranks the most unique mini golf courses in the U.S. (See List)

➤ East Tennessee: Progress continues on Sullivan County's $118 million jail project, with funding for 30 new staffers approved by the county commission. (See Details)

➤ Middle Tennessee: The health department reported the state’s first case of measles amid an outbreak in Texas and New Mexico, identifying the infected person only as a "Middle Tennessee resident" believed to have been infected in early March. (More)

➤ Bristol: An Alabama man is facing murder charges in connection to a 2002 Tennessee cold case. (More)

➤ No. 1-ranked Tennessee baseball took a series win over No. 12 Alabama over the weekend, with Andrew Fischer, Dalton Bargo, and Reese Chapman all hitting home runs in the series finale. (More)

➤ Chattanooga: Chattanooga Prep boys' basketball team routed Hillcrest Saturday, repeating as Class 1A state champions. Their victory marks the first back-to-back boys' basketball state title from Chattanooga since 2002-03. (More)

➤ A state Senate bill to ensure that girls in Tennessee have equal access to funding, facilities, and resources in school athletics has been introduced by Senate Minority Leader Sen. Raumesh Akbari and House Minority Leader Rep. Karen Camper. (See Details)

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➤ Regional One Health closed on sites for their new billion-dollar campus in downtown Memphis. The project will bring the city’s only Level I trauma center into a "modern space" better equipped to handle growing patient volumes. (More)

➤ Dollar General announced over 96 store closures nationwide, with Tennessee likely to be affected. Tennessee is home to over 1,000 Dollar General stores. (More)

➤ Barrett Firearms announced a new $76.4 million facility in Rutherford County that will function as the company's primary global firearms manufacturing site and will house a corporate office. The project is estimated to create 183 new jobs. (More)

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➤ Protests were seen over the weekend at multiple Tesla dealerships across the Volunteer State. Similar protests have been seen nationwide in recent weeks. (More)

➤ This photo gallery takes you back in time to see what Nashville was like in March 25 years ago. (See Photos)

➤ The Sevierville Police Department welcomed two new dogs, Izzy and Pako. Both police officers who will work with the canines are first-time handlers. (See Video)

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