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It’s August, and as students head back to school, read this heartwarming story of how a Tennessee teacher changed a struggling homeless student’s life, and how TikTok reunited them two decades later.
Sycamore Than You Knew
- From My Perspective ~ Today, The Tennessean published an op-ed that we wrote on why much of Tennessee’s housing has become unaffordable—urban, suburban, and rural communities alike—and what residents can do about it.
- Death and Taxes ~ Tennessee’s fiscal year ended on June 30, and the state ended up collecting 101% of its budgeted revenue. So where do those extra dollars go? Our free budget primer answers this question and more! (Professionally printed copies of the primer are just $25.)
- Gold Medal ~ Sycamore won an award for Best Digital Communication by the Governmental Research Association this summer for our two dashboards: Federal Funding and Federal Safety Net Programs in Tennessee.
- Smile! ~ This summer, we welcomed two policy interns, Max Bernstein and Walt Spickler. Join us in thanking them for their contributions this summer!
- At Home ~ Join Tennesseans from across the state to discuss housing policy, levers, and solutions at our Housing Policy Summit next month.
Not From Around Here
- Speaking Of ~ While we’re on the topic of housing, this video from the American Enterprise Institute explains how housing density may not look like what you’d expect, and it could make a big impact on housing affordability. They call it “light touch density,” while others may call it the “missing middle.”
- Biodiversity ~ Former Senate Majority Leader and Tennessee Senator, Bill Frist, wrote in a recent post explaining that Tennessee is “the most biologically diverse inland state in the United States.” Moreover, the Duck River is the “most biodiverse freshwater river in North America” supporting 151 fish, 60 mussel, and 22 aquatic snail species. Read more to learn about the conservation efforts in each Grand Division.
- Summer Heat ~ With much of Tennessee seeing heat advisories recently, extreme heat has been on the top of many people’s minds. Recent studies have shown that crowded urban centers can feel 15-20 degrees hotter than areas with more trees and greenery. One playground replaced its asphalt with grass and saw temperatures drop more than 40 degrees.
- US Debts ~ When does US debt become genuinely bad? That’s the question the Wall Street Journal set out to answer with this short seven-minute video.
- Three Quick Hits ~ 1) Gatlinburg was named one of the most beautiful towns in America by Condé Nast Traveler. 2) The Times Free Press wrote an article about the other Chattanoogas of the country. 3) Dr. James R. Downing, President and CEO of St. Jude, will be inducted into the Health Care Hall of Fame.
Rated G for Graphic
Dusting Off the Archives
- Wondering how roads are funded, or which levels of government are responsible for which roads? Our report, 6 Facts About Road Funding, answers these questions and more about how roads are funded in Tennessee.
