AGP Executive Report

Sports & Local Pride: The Tennessee Titans wrapped training camp with a Blue and White scrimmage at Nissan Stadium, where Cam Ward stood out and the QB battle still has fans watching closely. NBA News: Memphis Grizzlies forward Brandon Clarke’s death has been ruled an accidental overdose from the combined effects of heroin and cocaine, ending months of uncertainty. Music & Culture: Elvis Week 2026 kicks off in Memphis at Graceland with new exhibits and a packed lineup of performances and events. Community Spotlight: A Memphis family’s homemade hummus sparked a surprise $10,000 St. Jude donation. Arts & Entertainment Calendar: DCI World Championship Finals are set for Saturday, with streaming details and performance times for the Blue Stars and more. Film/TV Casting (Memphis): Casting listings point to multiple projects filming in Memphis, including a feature film and an HBO series. Outdoors: TWRA is seeking public input on a statewide Black Bass Management Plan, with comments open until Sept. 4.

Arts Leadership: Nashville’s “First Lady of the Arts” Martha Rivers Ingram, a major arts patron tied to the Tennessee Performing Arts Center, Nashville Ballet, Nashville Opera, Nashville Symphony and the Schermerhorn Symphony Center, has died at 90. Music & Culture: Country producer and pedal steel guitarist Tommy Detamore, whose work shaped hundreds of albums over four decades, has died at 70. Local Entertainment: The Nashville Now podcast is taking its show on the road, with a live stop at the Freeman Arts Pavilion on Aug. 11 featuring songwriter Maggie Rose. Media & Tech: TikTok is shutting its Nashville office and laying off 250 staff, ending the Music Row presence after a 2024 lease. Sports (Fan-facing): Tennessee men’s basketball adds a preseason exhibition vs. Xavier on Oct. 15 at Food City Center, with Duke also on the preseason slate. Community Events: “Million Dollar Quartet” runs Aug. 8–23 at Cain Center for the Arts, dramatizing the Sun Records Memphis session that launched Elvis, Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins and Jerry Lee Lewis.

Meta Ordered to Pay $567M: A New Mexico court ordered Meta (Instagram/Facebook) to pay $567 million into a teen mental health fund and require youth-safety changes after finding the company harmed children’s wellbeing. STEM Mentoring Boost: Mystic Aquarium won a $4 million DOJ grant to expand its conservation-based STEM mentoring program across 25+ states and territories. Music Spotlight: Nashville alt-pop artist Danny Silvertone announced his album Midnight for CD pre-order at select independent record stores. Local Sports Watch: Urbana’s new football coach Q’ke Clemmons is building for the season opener Aug. 22, with returning players like Christian Porter buying into the revamped program. DCI Drum Corps: The Colts hit Prelims at Lucas Oil Stadium with “An American Experience,” aiming for Friday’s semifinals. Tennessee Politics (Entertainment-adjacent): Marsha Blackburn won the GOP gubernatorial primary; she’ll face Memphis City Councilwoman Jerri Green in November.

Music & Arts Loss: Nashville arts powerhouse Martha Ingram, longtime leader behind the Schermerhorn Symphony Center and major local initiatives, has died at 90. Social Media & Local Economy: TikTok is closing its Music Row Nashville office and laying off 250 staff as it streamlines operations for long-term growth. Country Spotlight: Dolly Parton will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2026 Americana Honors & Awards at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium on Sept. 16. Live Entertainment: Dude Perfect wrapped its 2026 Squad Games Tour with 22 arena stops and a record-setting Knoxville show of 13,000+ fans. Community Arts: Williamson County Fair artist Nora Summers is turning backyard critters into award-winning sculptures and photos. Health Watch: A drug-resistant “superbug” fungus, Candida auris, is spreading nationwide, with 26 states reporting cases. Sports Pop Culture: Greta Van Fleet announced its new album “Palace for the People,” recorded in Tennessee, due Oct. 9.

NBA: Dillon Brooks is staying in Phoenix. The Suns agreed to a three-year, $73 million extension through 2029-30, keeping the gritty forward—once a Grizzlies mainstay—anchored for another run. Local Arts & Community: Knoxville’s REEDS Jewelers marks 80 years with a customer-first, family-style approach, while East Tennessee’s Mask-Fur-Ade Gala (HSTV) is nearly sold out for its Bridgerton-inspired fundraiser benefiting homeless pets. Nashville Fashion/Live Music: Mirror Mirror in Donelson is closing after nearly four years, ending a boutique that grew into a creative hub for shows, weddings, and community events. Sports Culture: “Inside Tennessee Basketball” continues its museum walk-through, spotlighting artifacts that preserve the Vols’ SEC Tournament history. Education & Privacy: A new push questions whether schools are collecting too much data—turning classrooms into constant monitoring instead of trust. Business Spotlight: Captives.Insure appoints Rachel Kortman as Chief Underwriting Officer to lead underwriting governance as it expands captive insurance access.

Tennessee Music & Arts: A Dolly Parton mural outside Nashville’s 5 Spot was vandalized with black paint; the man involved won’t face charges and the artist plans repairs. Local Arts Spotlight: Toni Brown is the August Artist of the Month at the Rogersville Local Artists Gallery, with a public reception set for Aug. 14. Community Food Access: Nashville’s Coalition for Food and Health Equity launched its first Ujamaa Café™ Community Fridge in Tennessee to provide healthy grab-and-go food for customers and unhoused neighbors. Entertainment & Culture: Pain Of Truth announced a North American tour that includes a Nashville stop at Eastside Bowl on Nov. 12. Sports (Tennessee angle): Tennessee is evaluating QB George MacIntyre vs. Faizon Brandon in preseason practices, with coach Josh Heupel saying every throw and fundamental is being graded. Tech & Infrastructure (Tennessee): DOE officials and Gov. Bill Lee touted nuclear growth in Knoxville/Oak Ridge amid ongoing waste concerns.

Local Stage & Community: Kindling Arts and Cherry Bomb improv bring “East Nashville Facebook Page: The Musical” to Eastside Bowl Aug. 6-7, turning local viral moments into a full-on comedy night. Festival Logistics: Tomato Art Fest in East Nashville adds more road closures and security barriers after a deadly Broadway crash, with closures starting Friday at 6 a.m. Arts & Culture: Columbia State Community College’s Pryor Art Gallery hosts “We Contain Multitudes,” featuring Nashville’s Contemporary Collective, running through Sept. 2. Sports & Entertainment Crossover: Tennessee football coach Josh Heupel addresses NCAA suspension fallout for linebacker Arion Carter ahead of fall camp. Local Media: Chattanooga Times Free Press returns to local, family ownership under new leadership, signaling a fresh chapter for the region’s newsroom. Sports Spotlight: MTSU baseball head coach Jim Toman dies at 64 after a brain cancer battle.

College Football Poll Buzz: Ohio State opens No. 1 in the preseason US LBM Coaches Poll, with Oregon No. 2, Georgia No. 3, and Indiana No. 6 after winning the national title. Tennessee in the Mix: Tennessee lands in the preseason Top 25 (listed among ranked teams), while Iowa checks in at No. 22 and Clemson starts at No. 23. Nashville Food News: PennePazze is pushing affordable fresh pasta in Nashville, aiming for a simple, ingredient-forward fast-casual model. Country Music Spotlight: Randy Owen’s documentary “My Home’s in Alabama: The Randy Owen Story” premieres Aug. 8 on Alabama Public Television. Live Music Calendar: Bronwyn plays a Cambridge, Tennessee-area house concert Aug. 6, and Sam Holt Band brings “Remembering Mikey” to Chattanooga’s Barrelhouse Ballroom Aug. 8. Chattanooga Wine Fundraiser: Tickets are now on sale for Best Cellars (Oct. 9) and Wine Over Water (Oct. 10) benefiting Preserve Chattanooga. Retail & Entertainment in Nashville: Shoptalk Fall 2026 returns Sept. 29–Oct. 1 at Music City Center with “Retail Unplugged.” Guitar Culture: Keith Urban discusses his Telecaster “Clarence,” a key piece from his early Nashville-to-stardom era.

Horror Premiere: Screamify green-lights “Crack,” a medical-horror/ASMR film set in Nashville about a chiropractor whose soothing livestream turns deadly. Tennis Spotlight: Russian teen Kristina Liutova, 16, wins the WTA Memphis title in her first main-draw WTA run. Golf Watch: Rianne Malixi heads into the 2026 U.S. Women’s Amateur at Ooltewah’s Honors Course as a top contender after bouncing back from injury. Fundraiser Food: New Hope Children’s Advocacy Center’s “Feast for Hope” brings 10 local chefs together for an Aug. 15 outdoor culinary fundraiser. Lottery Buzz: Powerball hits an estimated $748M jackpot for the Aug. 3 drawing (numbers: 8, 30, 41, 48, 54; Powerball 4). Local Sports/Community: Jefferson County Fair draws 20,000+ attendees, with Chris Janson headlining. Nashville Arts: “East Nashville Facebook Page: The Musical” lands at Eastside Bowl Aug. 6-7.

Tennis Spotlight: Kristina Liutova, a 16-year-old making her first main-draw WTA appearance, won the WTA 250 Memphis Classic on Sunday, rallying past Darja Vidmanova 1-6, 6-1, 6-3 to take the title. Live Music: The Oak Ridge Boys are headed to Duluth’s DECC Symphony Hall on Nov. 13, with tickets set to go on sale Aug. 7 (plus a presale option). Local Sports Honors: Tyler Legacy’s Calvin Rippy, Cale Zips, and Owen Harrison earned Blue Bell/TSWA Class 6A all-state baseball honors. Arts & Community: Sycamore Shoals State Historic Park released its August lineup, including guided tours, traditional music, and English country dancing. Nashville Books: A Nashville independent bookstore canceled a launch for “White. Blonde. Jew” after anti-Zionist backlash. Pop Culture: Jelly Roll says he’s taking “a year or two” off touring.

Local Education Policy: Knox County Schools is weighing a social media ban for elementary students plus tighter rules on student email and AI impersonation, aligning with Tennessee’s Teen Social Media and Internet Safety Act. Viral TV Moment: A FOX 13 Memphis anchor briefly dozed off during a live “Good Morning Memphis” segment, but viewers rallied with “she’s human” support. Music & Culture: Maren Morris marks a decade since “Hero” and plans an emotional run ending at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium. Live Entertainment: Vince Gill’s Ryman set keeps rolling with a three-and-a-half-hour crowd-pleaser. Sports (Memphis): The FedEx Cup playoff bubble is tightening with the Wyndham Championship as the last regular-season stop before Memphis’ FedEx St. Jude Championship. Tennis (Memphis): Kristina Liutova, 16, wins the Memphis Classic in her first WTA main-draw title. Community Outdoors: A new ADA-accessible dock opens on Norris Lake in Campbell County. Local Sports Fundraising: McMinn County High School is over halfway to buying PowerBlock dumbbells for its training facility.

College Sports Legal Shakeup: A federal judge ruled that high school Class of 2022 athletes can take a fifth college season, a move the NCAA says will fuel “roster chaos” and plans to appeal. NCAA Fallout in Tennessee: The ruling arrives as Tennessee-linked eligibility fights keep heating up, with coaches and programs bracing for major roster uncertainty. Memphis Golf Spotlight: Rachel Heck of Memphis is profiled ahead of the U.S. Women’s Amateur, returning to the tournament that helped mark her rise. Happy Days Fan Expo Buzz: Henry Winkler says one guest star on “Happy Days” let fame go to his head, sharing the behind-the-scenes clash. Nashville Tragedy: Police identified a Bowling Green man as the driver in a downtown crash on 4th Avenue at Broadway that killed one pedestrian and sent three others to the hospital. Country Music Corner: A Tennessee author released an A-to-Z country music compendium, with illustrated entries and quick-hit lore for fans. Powerball: Jackpot climbs to about $748M for Monday’s drawing after another miss.

NFL Training Camp Buzz (Nashville): Titans QB Will Levis returned to the media after a full season on injured reserve, saying he’s focused on “having fun” and competing for a backup spot behind Cam Ward, while also insisting he’s “a dang good quarterback.” Powerball (Statewide): Saturday’s Aug. 1 drawing set the jackpot at an estimated $707 million (cash value $307.3M), with numbers 6, 17, 27, 48, 50 and Powerball 5. Music & Culture (Tennessee): Sarah McLachlan announced her “Better Broken Tour” extension, with a Franklin stop at FirstBank Amphitheater and Nashville-based Allison Russell as a special guest on upcoming dates. Sports (MLS, Nashville): Nashville SC blew a two-goal lead but salvaged a 2-2 draw with D.C. United at Audi Field. Community & Arts (Memphis): Civil rights icon Ruby Bridges brought the Ruby Bridges Reading Festival to the National Civil Rights Museum, spotlighting literacy and representation. Local Spotlight (Maryville College): Maryville College’s 2026-27 Convocation will feature Canton, NC Mayor Zeb Smathers as guest speaker.

NCAA Eligibility: A federal judge in Colorado granted a class-wide extra year of NCAA eligibility to athletes from Tennessee’s Class of 2022, siding with players affected by the NCAA’s “5-for-5” eligibility shift. Music in Nashville: Kelsea Ballerini popped up at Hilary Duff’s Nashville show with hot chicken, turning the concert into a full-on Music City moment. Local Arts & Culture: The East Tennessee Foundation awarded $250,000 through the Thompson Charitable Foundation Fund to 17 nonprofits across Anderson, Blount, Knox and Scott counties. Sports Coaching: DeAndre Hopkins was hired as an assistant wide receivers coach at Georgia Tech, adding star power to the ACC coaching ranks. Memphis/Chattanooga Entertainment Picks: A Chattanooga-area listings roundup highlights films, live music and an outdoor movie night, giving weekend plans a clear soundtrack. Community Spotlight: The Thompson Charitable Foundation Fund grants include programs like Girls on the Run Greater Knoxville and Second Harvest Food Bank of East Tennessee.

College Sports Legal Shakeup: A federal judge in Colorado granted a class-wide preliminary injunction restoring a fifth year of NCAA eligibility to Division I athletes from the high school Class of 2022, undercutting the NCAA’s “five-for-five” plan and setting up major roster ripple effects nationwide. NCAA vs. Congress: NCAA president Charlie Baker urged Congress to pass the “Protect College Sports Act” as the courts keep blocking the new eligibility framework. Local Education Politics: Metro Nashville Public Schools denied four revised charter applications, with board members framing the decision around “fiscal impact” despite praising the quality of at least two proposals. Music & Culture: UT Press launched “My Magic Tux,” co-authored by “Big Orange Tux Guy” J.R. Greene, with proceeds supporting UT Libraries. Country Music Spotlight: Country Hall of Famer Tanya Tucker announced a Nov. 11 Hard Rock Live stop in Tulsa. Wildlife Warning: Viral footage from Gatlinburg showed a mother black bear and cubs climbing into a family’s SUV, reigniting concerns about human-bear encounters. Food Safety Alert: Costco shoppers were warned about misbranded Red’s All Natural steak cilantro and lime burritos due to an undeclared egg allergen.

Memphis NBA Buzz: Scotty Pippen Jr. says Ja Morant’s exit opens the door for Memphis’ young core to step up, leaning on what he learned from Morant’s work ethic. Local Sports (Prospect League): The Jackson Rockabillys squeaked past Alton 15-14, with Jake Ottensmeier and Mac Floyd going deep. Training Camp Tech: Jets coach Aaron Glenn is reshaping camp with analytics, sports science, and more recovery time. Tennessee Music & Culture: Barack Obama’s summer playlist includes “West Memphis” by West Memphis native Yebba. Country Spotlight: Rodney Atkins headlines the 2026 Little Debbie Hamilton County Fair in Sale Creek (Nov. 6-8). Vols on the Air: Jayson Swain is named Vol Network football gameday booth analyst for 2026. Back-to-School Savings: Tennessee’s tax-free weekend runs July 31–Aug. 2, but groceries aren’t included. Nashville Pop Moment: Charli XCX brought “Music, Fashion, Film” songs to life in Nashville. TV/Streaming: “Leanne” Season 2 trailer teases a new dating chapter for Leanne Morgan.