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It’s July, and this month, our country celebrated its 250th birthday! Think you know US history? See how many historical events you can correctly place. The Sycamore team played with varying degrees of success. (Spoiler: the staff member with the History degree did the best.)
Sycamore Than You Knew
- A Penny for Your Thoughts ~ We have an audience survey running through August 7 to gather insights on the topics that matter most to you. It shouldn’t take more than five minutes, and eligible participants will be entered to win one of two Visa gift cards.
- Hot Off the Presses ~ We published the 4th edition of the Tennessee State Budget Primer this week! Printed copies are available for pre-order, and the PDF is free to download! With a new “Hot Topics” section, you won’t want to miss this.
- Down the Road ~ Next month, we are hosting a free webinar to discuss the unique housing opportunities and challenges facing Tennessee’s rural communities. The webinar is free, but registration is required.
- Summer Interns ~ Summer is flying by, and we’d like to introduce you to our summer Policy Interns! Say hello to Audrey, Abigail, and Ana.
Notes and Quotes ~- The Tennessean wrote, “The state’s limited land-use regulations also make [data center development] attractive. Unlike some states with statewide zoning requirements, Tennessee gives local governments broad authority over land use, and nearly half of the state’s 95 counties had not adopted countywide zoning regulations as of 2025, according to an analysis by the Sycamore Institute.”
- Former Senate Majority Leader Frist mentioned Sycamore and our collaboration with NashvilleHealth on their Heart of Nashville program to lower hypertension in his Forbes column.
- The Tennessee Lookout and Times Free Press explained how payment error rates could impact how much the state has to contribute to SNAP. “That could mean Tennessee’s state budget will have to find room for an additional estimated $162 million to $171 million to fund its portion of the program, according to an analysis by The Sycamore Institute, a nonpartisan public policy research center. These estimates assume that Tennessee will continue to issue the same amount of benefits as it did in 2024 or 2025.”
Not From Around Here
- Off the Beaten Path ~ Many of us think of ourselves as being from rural places, but what does that even mean? Federal agencies, states, and people all have different definitions, so how might we collectively think about these places?
- Civic Engagement ~ A new Pew Research report sorts Americans into groups on how they do, or don’t, take part in society. Are you a mobilizer, connector, spectator, or outsider?
- Studious ~ On average, American children are doing worse on certain subjects than they did ten years ago. The Wall Street Journal chronicled how Tennessee is seeing gains ahead of other states.
- Courting Controversy ~ How do you say the word Appalachia? “Appa-latch-a” or “Appa-lay-chia?” After sampling more than 1,500 recordings of locals from across the region, one pronunciation was far more common than the other.
Rated G for Graph
Dusting Off the Archives
- How do state policy decisions shape local governance in Tennessee? There are several important ways, and this short brief offers some key ways state policy shapes the options, decisions, and priorities of Tennessee’s local governments.
