SUMMARY: The Trump administration plans to significantly reduce National Institutes of Health (NIH) grants, risking over 9,000 jobs in Tennessee that rely on approximately $700 million annually. The cuts will particularly affect funding for indirect costs vital for lab operations, impacting major universities like Vanderbilt and smaller towns. NIH supports diverse projects, including cancer care improvements at St. Jude and Alzheimer’s pain management research at the University of Tennessee. After a coalition of 22 states filed a lawsuit, a federal judge temporarily halted cuts, stressing the need for adequate resources to conduct medical research. Compliance with the ruling remains uncertain.

Read the full article

The post Tennessee’s medical research is in limbo while the Trump administration considers illegal budget cuts appeared first on wpln.org

SUMMARY: The Tennessee Legislature has passed a universal education savings account program, the Education Freedom Scholarship Program (EFS), allowing parents to access state funding for educational choices. For success, a strong private school sector is essential. Current regulations burden private schools, discouraging entrepreneurs from opening new options. Recommendations include consolidating school types, removing testing requirements, extending school approval terms, and rescinding onerous transportation regulations. Additionally, safety guidelines, including annual armed intruder drills, should be reconsidered to reduce stress among students and parents. Streamlining regulations can enhance private school operations and support Tennessee’s overall educational landscape.

Read the full article

The post Op-Ed: How to get the most Tennessee children access high-quality private education | Opinion appeared first on www.thecentersquare.com

SUMMARY: Week News 2 is touring Wetherford County, highlighting its unique community, including a successful middle school girls basketball team, the Blackman Flames, which recently secured another county championship. Under Coach Katherine Urel, the team emphasizes dedication, teamwork, and character-building alongside winning. Since fall 2015, they boast an impressive record of 187 wins and only 36 losses, achieving back-to-back state championships in 2022 and 2023. With over 50,500 middle school athletes participating in Tennessee this year, interest in sports is on the rise. The team may have fallen short of the state championships, but their achievements and lessons extend beyond the court.

Blackman Middle School’s basketball legacy

Source