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It’s January, and Tennessee ranks 5th in the nation for frozen pipes, totaling more than $30 million in damages between 2024 and 2025. You might have heard that we’re expecting some severe winter weather this weekend, so here are some tips to safeguard your home.
Sycamore Than You Knew
- How a Bill Becomes a Law 201 ~ There are nuances in how a bill becomes a law in Tennessee. With the General Assembly currently in session, it’s the perfect time to brush up on the procedures and common lingo.
- Food for Thought ~ This week, we released a new report explaining how SNAP works in Tennessee, how many Tennesseans participate, and new federal changes to the program. Want something quicker? Report author Robin Yeh made a short overview video.
- County By County ~ Our recent interactive dashboard shows the income and poverty, education, health insurance, and housing information for every county in Tennessee. Users can also compare urban/rural, Grand Divisions, counties, and trends.
- Coming Soon, Near You ~ We’re hosting three regional housing events to discuss the levers locals have to address their housing concerns. Join us in Jackson, Johnson City, and Cookeville for a solutions-oriented luncheon!
- Defining Terms ~ Recently, we’ve been defining common terms and phrases you may hear when watching the Tennessee General Assembly. Learn what it means to “roll a bill,” and join us for this weekly series on Instagram or TikTok!
- Notes and Quotes ~
- The Knoxville News Sentinel explained that high home prices are pushing neighbors out of Knox County, writing “new arrivals who are looking to buy a house in Knox County have more money and a higher purchasing power, according to the Sycamore Institute study.”
- WPLN hosted Executive Vice President Mandy Spears on a panel last week to discuss this year’s legislative session. She discusses how grocery tax changes might affect state revenues, how the legislative session works, and how a bill can be revived. You can listen here.
- The Tennessee Lookout recently wrote about considerations for a tax on public EV fast chargers, citing Sycamore’s transportation work on transportation fees.
Not From Around Here
- Time to Visit ~ The New York Times recently named Memphis as one of the 52 places to visit in 2026. The paper highlights the National Civil Rights Museum’s renovation of the Legacy Building, the Hattiloo Theater, and the Memphis Art Museum.
- Then & Now ~ It may sound too good to be true that you can buy a Coke for a nickel in Tennessee, but Reeves Drug Store in Pulaski is doing just that, something it’s done since 1892.
- Good Stewardship ~ In the 1950s, mussels found in Abrams Creek in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park were nearly wiped out. Thanks to reintroduction efforts, mussel species are beginning to return!
Rated G for Graph
Dusting Off the Archives
- Conversations are happening in the General Assembly about expanding the Education Freedom Scholarship Act to more students. Read our summary of last year’s bill, see how many private school students were enrolled in 2024, and learn about different private school categories and requirements.
