Tuesday, September 15, 2026

The Rutherford Roundup

In Today’s Episode:

• Middle Tennessee has already recorded more officer-involved shootings in 2026 than in all of 2024 or 2025, including recent incidents in Smyrna and Murfreesboro.
• The TBI is investigating a September 11 shooting at a Murfreesboro hotel after police say a man carrying a hatchet charged toward officers while they attempted to serve an arrest warrant.
• Tennessee truckers are facing soaring diesel costs, with prices averaging about $5.76 per gallon statewide and economists warning that higher transportation expenses could eventually raise consumer prices.
• The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation is warning retailers and consumers about products labeled “Cat’s Claw” that may contain MGM-15, a kratom-derived compound. Kratom is illegal in Tennessee.
• Middle Tennessee advocacy groups are urging Congress to delay upcoming SNAP funding changes that could leave Tennessee responsible for a much larger share of the program’s administrative costs.
• A Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals ruling could strengthen protections for union workers in Tennessee who challenge management over potential violations of collective bargaining agreements.