Show Notes – Wednesday, December 31, 2025

The Rutherford Roundup

In Today’s Episode:

• Hospitals in Tennessee confront rising cases of the drug-resistant fungus Candida auris, with nearly 7,000 infections nationwide in 2025 and 189 confirmed cases in the state.

• Health experts warn that climate change may be accelerating the spread of Candida auris, which thrives in healthcare settings and resists standard antifungal treatments.

• Flu activity increases across Rutherford County and the Nashville region, with health officials urging vaccinations as peak flu season approaches.

• Local flu shot clinics are available in Murfreesboro and Smyrna as officials stress prevention through hygiene, vaccination, and early treatment.

• Tennessee House Speaker Cameron Sexton proposes paid stipends for student teachers to address educator shortages and reduce financial barriers.

• Tennessee secures more than $200 million from the Federal Rural Health Transformation Fund to combat the state’s rural hospital crisis.

• Reopened rural hospitals are improving access to care, reducing long travel times for emergency and routine medical services.

• Debate intensifies over Tennessee’s Education Freedom Scholarship Program, with plans to expand vouchers using public funds.

• Supporters argue school choice benefits families, while critics warn of long-term impacts on public school funding.

• A Sumner County man is arrested in Florida after driving the wrong way on a highway, narrowly avoiding a head-on collision and facing multiple charges.

🔗 Listen & Learn More:
Website: wgnsradio.com/RutherfordRoundup

Spotify: open.spotify.com/show/6o5lRIqG99Id4sYA7oobVQ

Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-rutherford-roundup/id1783867186

YouTube Playlist: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLh_IeDgqs1yS14XpZXCXte1IDUWK49Qdw