DONATE

By J. Holly McCall | Editor-in-Chief

Good morning, Lookout readers:

If administration of Tennessee’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program were sentient, it would deserve a ‘bless your heart.’

First, a judge struck down a pilot program, pitched by Gov. Bill Lee, that put restrictions on the kind of food people with SNAP could buy. No soda for YOU!

And, about 100,000 Tennesseans lost SNAP benefits between the passage of President Donald Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act in June 2005.

Today, Cassandra Stephenson reports Tennessee could be on the hook for between $162 million to $171 million as penalties from the government for errors in managing the program. Efficiency, thy name is Tennessee government.

  • Ad watch: U.S. Rep. John Rose, a candidate for the Republican gubernatorial nomination, released an ad in which he makes a forceful point about voting against one of his opponents, U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn. After detailing Blackburn’s long record in office, he says: “We all owe Marsha our thanks. We don’t owe her the governor’s office.”

  • Ad watch: State Rep. Johnny Garrett’s new ad in his Republican Congressional District 6 primary touts his endorsement from anti-transgender activist and Sumner County resident Riley Gaines.

THE LOOKOUT’S TOP STORY

Tennessee could be on the hook for tens of millions of dollars in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program funding by October 2027 under a new rule imposed by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, unless the state improves its SNAP payment error rate. (Photo: U.S. Department of Agriculture)

Tennessee taxpayers could foot bill for some SNAP costs if state’s error rate doesn’t improve

by Cassandra Stephenson

Tennessee could be on the hook for tens of millions of dollars in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program funding next year unless the state improves how it manages the program. 

READ MORE
NEWS AND NOTES
FEATURED IN THE LOOKOUT

William J. Samford Hall at Auburn University in in Auburn, Alabama. The Auburn University Board of Trustees earlier this month voted to dissolve the university’s faculty senate. New laws in Alabama and other states give greater power to politically appointed state university boards and administrators while weakening tenure protections and faculty sway over curriculum and university leadership. (Photo by Anna Barrett/Alabama Reflector)

Public universities face escalating involvement from state lawmakers

by Anna Clare Vollers

Tennessee is one of several states that have enacted laws that give greater power to politically appointed boards and administrators while weakening tenure protections and faculty sway over curriculum and university leadership.

READ MORE
ICYMI

Thanks for reading The Daily Lookout. Did you know our weekend digest is also free? Sign up here. And if you enjoyed today’s edition, please forward to a friend. Increasing our readership helps us cover more news.