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By J. Holly McCall | Editor-in-Chief

Good morning and TGIF, Lookout readers.

You’ve got to say this for Tennessee: lawsuits against state government are only filed on days ending in ‘Y.’

Thus, Adam Friedman reports two more lawsuits have been filed over a new state law that bans pharmacy benefit managers — a middleman, if you will, that negotiates drug reimbursement rates — from also owning pharmacies.

Pharmacy giant CVS wasted now time in suing after the legislature passed the measure, which was sponsored by — whaddya know! — lawmakers who happen to be pharmacists, and now Express Scripts and the Pharmaceutical Care Management Association have followed (law) suit.

  • Aqua cremation for pets? Catching our eye from the Chattanooga Times Free Press was a story by Emily Crisman about Pet Aqua Farewells, which offers “acquamation” as an alternative to cremation. For pets. The business owners say one shouldn’t confuse the process with that in crime movies in which bodies are dissolved in barrels of chemicals but now we can’t get that picture out of our heads.

  • Shameless self-promotion: The Tennessee Lookout team won 11 awards on Thursday at the Tennessee Press Association Awards, sponsored with the University of Tennessee. Five of those were 1st place wins, with one for Public Service journalism — and that means a lot to us. We view our work as a service to Tennesseans, and you make it possible for us to do it.

THE LOOKOUT’S TOP STORY

Tennessee lawmakers overwhelming passed a bill to ban CVS from operating both a pharmacy benefit manager and pharmacy stores in Tennessee. Now, Express Scripts and Pharmaceutical Care Management Association have joined CVS in suing the state over the measure. (Photo: John Partipilo/Tennessee Lookout)

More PBMs file lawsuits against Tennessee over bill banning ownership of stores

by Adam Friedman

Express Scripts and the Pharmaceutical Care Management Association each filed separate lawsuits against the state of Tennessee this month over legislation that bans a pharmacy benefits manager, PBM, from owning a pharmacy.

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FEATURED IN THE LOOKOUT

“There’s no interest. I don’t know anybody who has any interest in doing that,” said Sen.Ferrell Haile, a Portland Republican, of a rumor the legislature would take up redistricting of the state House and Senate. (Photo: John Partipilo/Tennessee Lookout)

Stockard on the Stump: Senators say no state House, Senate redistricting on their radar

by Sam Stockard

Sens. Ferrell Haile and Ken Yager, both Republicans, say the legislature won’t redraw state House and Senate districts next year, despite a high court decision clearing the way for new maps without minority-majority requirements.

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People gather for a public meeting on Tuesday, Feb.17, 2026, at the Montgomery City Public Library in Montgomery County, Missouri. They came to learn about a lawsuit filed by Preserve Montgomery County. (Le Chen)

Here’s what communities can do when data centers arrive

by Max Quinn, Sophie Rentschler and Sterling Sewell, Missouri Business Alert

From the Mississippi River Ag and Water Desk, expert advice to help residents and elected officials handle the spread of data centers. Reporters interviewed more than 50 experts from the data center industry, local and state elected officials, national policy experts, researchers, residents and others with data center experience to compile this toolkit. 

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