ICE Expands Law Enforcement Partnerships in TN

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is expanding 287(g) partnerships with Tennessee state and local law enforcement agencies, the agency announced, citing arrests of illegal foreign nationals with criminal records.

The 1996 federal program allows ICE to delegate limited immigration enforcement authority to local officers. Tennessee agencies have submitted 136 applications, with 55 pending as of Sept. 15, according to the latest ICE data.

ICE said Tennessee partners have arrested more than 1,300 illegal foreign nationals since January 2025, including a Honduran national with sexual battery convictions detained near the Tennessee-Alabama line; a previously deported Mexican national and aggravated felon convicted of sexual battery; and a Honduran national convicted of aggravated assault after previously being deported five times, among others.

ICE says that seven of the 10 safest cities in the U.S. are ones where local law enforcement is partnering with ICE. A state law enacted this year requires all Tennessee sheriffs’ offices to sign 287(g) agreements by Jan. 1, 2027. Nationwide, ICE has 2,510 such agreements across 39 states. For more information about the 287(g) program, visit ice.gov.

Property Tax Concerns Prompt Talk of Special Session

Tennessee lawmakers are weighing a possible special legislative session on property taxes as voters prepare to decide in November whether to permanently ban a statewide property tax.

The state currently has no statewide property tax. Tennessee Amendment 2, on the Nov. 3 ballot, would add a constitutional prohibition barring the General Assembly from enacting property taxes statewide if approved by a majority of voters. The measure would not affect local property taxes enacted by cities, counties, and school boards, which are increasing across the state.

Local increases have drawn attention, with the Beacon Center citing hikes of 14% in Red Bank and 164% in Mt. Juliet, and Nashville businesses reporting sharp reassessments.

A bill capping local increases at inflation plus 2%, with referendums for larger hikes, died in committee. House Speaker Cameron Sexton’s office said all options, including a special session, remain under consideration.

Tennessee’s Late-September Event Roundup

Tennessee’s fall festival season is underway with music, food, and heritage events scheduled across the state. Here’s a lineup of late-September events beginning next weekend.

In Middle Tennessee, the Rock Castle Bluegrass Jam in Hendersonville runs Sept. 25-26. The Oaklands Mansion 12th Annual Oktoberfest in Murfreesboro and the Cider Celebration at Breeden’s Orchard in Mt. Juliet follow Sept. 26.

The Nashville Film Festival screens independent films Sept. 24-30, while Elizabethton’s Covered Bridge Days (Sept. 25-27) offers music, food, vendors, and fireworks.

East Tennessee late-September events include the Townsend Fall Heritage Festival (Sept. 25-26) featuring Appalachian music, country fair fun, and history; Ober Gatlinburg’s Oktoberfest (opening Sept. 25) is a traditional Bavarian festival with live polka bands, stein-holding competitions, and views of the Smoky Mountains. Blount County’s Fall Railroad & Heritage Event will take place Sept. 26-27, and the Blue Ribbon Country Fair is taking place on Sept. 27 offering an old-fashioned country celebration, with demonstrations of open-hearth cooking, spinning, wood turning, and blacksmithing.

In West Tennessee, the Jackson International Food and Art Festival (Sept. 26) celebrates West Tennessee’s cultural diversity with live music, global cuisines, artistic displays, and a community parade. The 48th Annual Chester County BBQ Festival (Sept. 25-26) in Henderson features barbecue cook-offs, live entertainment, and family activities.

More late-September events in Tennessee can be found here.

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➤ Byrdstown: The Pickett County Sheriff’s Office announced the capture of one of Tennessee’s most wanted murder suspects on Thursday. Jesse Wayne Phillips had been wanted on a second-degree murder charge following a fatal shooting in Pickett County in May. (More)

➤ La Vergne: Multiple agencies responded to a possible drowning at Percy Priest Lake on Friday night after a man went overboard from a boat just before 9 p.m. (More)

➤ Knoxville: Alumni Hall, a collegiate and local apparel retailer, reported a sharp spike in Dolly Parton merchandise sales following the singer’s death. Demand has remained high across all Tennessee stores, with the largest volume of sales occurring at the retailer’s flagship Turkey Creek location. (More)

➤ Erwin: One person died after an alleged road-rage shooting on Friday morning at the 200 block of Ohio Avenue, Police Chief Tony Buchanan said, and a suspect faces a second-degree murder charge. (More)

➤ Spring Hill: Popular food pantry The Well Outreach is recovering from a cybersecurity attack, and leaders at the Middle Tennessee nonprofit say they are implementing measures to prevent a similar breach. (More)

➤ Cross Plains: A power outage left about 1,500 customers without electricity during high heat Friday, and Cumberland Electric Membership Corporation crews are working to restore service as quickly as possible. The cause of the outage was not immediately known. (More)

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➤ Vanderbilt erased a 17-point deficit and won on an improbable last-second defensive touchdown, forcing a fumble as NC State appeared to attempt to run out the clock by taking an intentional safety. (Watch Play)

➤ The Tennessee Titans will take on one of the NFL’s top defenses today, squaring off with the Philadelphia Eagles and coming off a 10-point performance against the New York Jets in Week 1. (More)

➤ Joey Logano won the Bristol Night Race for his 40th career Cup victory after contact from Carson Hocevar wrecked Ryan Blaney, who confronted Hocevar afterward resulting in a physical altercation. (Watch Recap)

➤ Four Tennessee players rushed for touchdowns as the No. 15 Volunteers routed Kennesaw State 42-9 to improve to 3-0. (More)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: NCAAF | MLB | WNBA | Soccer | Golf | NASCAR

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➤ Rural Resources will host its annual Incredible Farm Dinner Downtown in Greeneville on Oct. 3 to celebrate the region’s local farms and community. This sell-out event will feature a three-course meal of locally sourced ingredients prepared by chef Rushmie Bakshi. Tickets cost $100. (More)

➤ Southwest Airlines has added extra flights between Austin and Knoxville for the Sept. 26 Tennessee-Texas football game, carrying Longhorns fans in beforehand and returning them the next day. (More)

➤ Community members gathered on the Madison County Courthouse lawn in Jackson on Friday for a memorial service marking National POW/MIA Recognition Day, honoring more than 81,000 Americans still missing or unaccounted for. (More)

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The following stories are featured exclusively on The Flyover Podcast—a daily show that gives you the most important headlines in under 15 minutes, straight from the heart of the country. 

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