Wednesday, March 18, 2026

The Rutherford Roundup

In Today’s Episode:

• Middle Tennessee State University President Dr. Sidney A. McPhee announces he will step down in December 2026 after more than 25 years leading the university.

  

• A look at McPhee’s legacy at MTSU, including more than $2 billion in campus construction, renovations, and infrastructure improvements.

• The Rutherford County Library Board votes to move more than 190 books from children’s sections into adult areas, prompting sharp public debate over age-appropriate access and reading freedom.

• MTSU’s Honors College schedules a public panel on the escalating conflict involving Iran, the United States, and Israel, featuring faculty experts from political science, history, and military studies.

• State Representative Tim Rudd of Murfreesboro advances House Bill 1705, which would require Tennessee state and local governments to use E-Verify for newly hired employees.

• New crash analysis ranks Tennessee ninth in the nation for fatal weekend nighttime crashes, with Rutherford County reporting six fatal crashes so far in 2026.

• Local law enforcement conducts the “Early Morning Blues” traffic safety operation along Interstate 24 and U.S. Highway 231 South, with officials reporting no crashes during the effort.

🔗 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