SUMMARY: Homebuyers in Middle Tennessee could face higher costs due to tariffs on imported materials, which account for about 7% of goods used in residential construction. A report from the National Association of Home Builders suggests that tariffs could increase the cost of building a new single-family home by $7,500 to $10,000. Softwood lumber, primarily sourced from Canada, and gypsum for drywall are key materials affected. Despite potential cost increases, Ole South Properties plans to avoid passing higher prices to buyers immediately, opting instead to build smaller homes. Industry leaders are hopeful that domestic suppliers will eventually meet demand.

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SUMMARY: Hendersonville is initiating a traffic safety plan aimed at reducing congestion and accidents. The project focuses on redesigning the Old Shackle Island Road and Walton Ferry Road intersection, which has faced issues due to two closely positioned traffic signals causing confusion and accidents. This long-awaited enhancement, beginning in February, involves realigning power and water lines and includes construction impacting local businesses and homeowners. Expected to be finished by May 2027, the transformation aims to attract more investment and includes wider lanes and added sidewalks for pedestrians. Future projects include improvements to the exit 8 railroad tunnel for better access to Vietnam Veterans Boulevard.

Work has started on Hendersonville’s plan to reduce traffic congestion and accidents.

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Tennessee Department of Health bars employees from using preferred pronouns

by Anita Wadhwani, Tennessee Lookout
March 17, 2025

The Tennessee Department of Health has banned the use of preferred pronouns in staff emails, mirroring similar directives issued by federal agencies in response to orders issued by the Trump Administration.

The ban on the use of preferred pronouns is reflected in a “communication policy branding standards” March 5 policy update. 

The updated policy about state employees emails says that “gender pronouns may not be included in the subject line, body, or signature line for purposes of identifying the preferred pronouns of the sender.”

“Pronouns may not be used in an email unless they are being used within a sentence in the place of a noun.”

The policy revisions came at the “authority of the Commissioner of Health,” said a spokesperson. Dr. Ralph Alvarado — a former Republican state senator from Kentucky and one-time running mate with former Kentucky governor Matt Bevin — has been commissioner of the department since 2023.

The health department’s directive reflects a broader national rollback of policies intended to recognize the identities of nonbinary individuals in and out of government. 

Dean Flener, a health department spokesperson, initially responded to questions about a policy change by saying there was “not a new policy.”

The previous version of the health department policy, however, revealed no instructions on the use of preferred pronouns. That prior policy was revised March 5. 

Flener said the update reflects a “more comprehensive” reiteration of existing department policy.

“The Department’s Communication Policy previously addressed what may and may not be included in employee emails and auto-signatures,” Flener said in response to additional questions from the Lookout.

“The updated language in the policy reiterates those existing requirements in a more comprehensive manner,” he said. 

The new policy also adds one more prohibition: “emails may not include inspirational quotations.”

DOH pronoun policy

Tennessee Lookout is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Tennessee Lookout maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Holly McCall for questions: info@tennesseelookout.com.

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