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By J. Holly McCall | Editor-in-Chief

Good morning, Lookout readers:

Since the Elon Musk-backed Boring Company announced plans in 2025 to dig a tunnel from the Nashville International Airport to downtown Nashville, lawmakers, environmentalists and regular Nashvillians have raised concerns about Middle Tennessee’s limestone-heavy geology.

So it was no shock when the Southern Environmental Law Center released a report last week exposing concerns tunneling could trigger the creation of sinkholes near the route.

Senior Reporter Sam Stockard interviewed a member of the state board overseeing the project, who said he isn’t overly concerned about sinkholes — but is concerned about the possibility of flooding.

If it’s not one thing, it’s another.

In other news:

  • Appointment of former Hagerty chief at Pentagon raises eyebrows. In a move that flew under local radar, Adam Telle, who served as chief of staff to U.S. Sen. Bill Hagerty of Tennessee for four years, was appointed in September as acting Secretary of the Army. A story from The Daily Beast, a political news outlet operated by People, reports Telle, who has never served in the military, is facing challenges.

  • TONIGHT: Gubernatorial forum. The Tennessee Press Association, TPA, of which the Lookout is a member, and Middle Tennessee State University, will host the only statewide, fully public gubernatorial forum at 7 p.m. CDT/8 p.m. EDT tonight. Democratic nominee Jerri Green, a Memphis City Councilmember and independent candidates David Hatley and Lauren Pinkston will participate.

  • To watch, tune into TPA’s live stream, linked here, The forum will also air live on MTSU's True Blue TV, which airs on Comcast Xfinity channels 9 and 1096; True Blue TV is also available on Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, and as a free app on iPhone and Android phones. True Blue TV broadcasts live 24/7 at mtsu.edu/truebluetv.

THE LOOKOUT’S TOP STORY

 An August 2026 aerial shot of the Boring Company’s Music City Tunnel station under construction at the Tennessee State Capitol. A recent report from the Southern Evironmentatl Law Center cautions construction of the tunnel for Tesla vehicles could trigger the creation of sinkholes. (Photo: John Partipilo/Tennessee Lookout)

Tennessee subterranean authority member won’t take first Boring Company tunnel ride

by Sam Stockard

A member of the Tennessee board overseeing construction of a Nashville tunnel isn’t worried yet about the potential for sinkholes detailed in a new study, but even he is leery it could be flooded by the Cumberland River.

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NEWS AND NOTES
FEATURED IN THE LOOKOUT

The Tennessee Education Lottery has funded college scholarships since its launch in 2003 but lottery tickets have sagged since the introduction of online sports betting in the state. (Photo: John Partipilo/Tennessee Lookout)

by Adam Friedman

Rebecca Paul, Tennessee’s outgoing chief executive of the lottery education corporation told state officials she was optimistic revenue designated for college scholarships won’t keep falling.

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ELECTION 2026

Anna Golladay, left, the Democratic nominee for the 3rd Congressional District, is challenging GOP U.S. Rep. Chuck Fleischmann, who has held the seat since 2010. (Photos: Golladay from annagolladay.com; Fleischmann from Congressman Chuck Fleischmann Facebook)

by Ben Sessoms for Tennessee Lookout

Challenging eight-term Republican incumbent U.S. Rep. Chuck Fleischmann in the 3rd Congressional District, Anna Golladay, amid a projected blue wave in the upcoming midterms, sees an opening for the Democratic Party. But it’s not easy task.

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