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Bill regulating fluoride levels in water dies in committee | Tennessee

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www.thecentersquare.com – By Kim Jarrett | The Center Square – (The Center Square – ) 2025-03-19 16:06:00

(The Center Square) – The Tennessee Senate Energy, Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee killed a bill that would require state water systems to keep fluoride levels in water at 0.7 mg/L.

Sen. Rusty Crowe, R-Johnson City, cited concerns that fluoride was causing health problems in children. The bill also requires water systems to test to make sure they are not above the 0.7 mg/L. If they are, monthly testing would be required. 

The original bill would have removed fluoride altogether. 

“All we’re saying is let’s make sure we test it, let’s keep it at 0.7 and we should probably come back at some point and look at the levels that Tennessee allows,” Crowe told the committee. “That’s really dangerous.”

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said before he was appointed to his position that President Donald J. Trump would remove fluoride from drinking water on his first day. Trump did not do that.

“Fluoride is an industrial waste associated with arthritis, bone fractures, bone cancer, IQ loss, neurodevelopmental disorders, and thyroid disease,” Kennedy said in a social media post.

Dr. Leon Stanislav, a retired Clarksville dentist, was a member of the National Fluoridation Advisory Committee. He acknowledged that 0.7 mg/l is the minimal optimal level.

“I think our water operators are a little uncomfortable trying to hit 0.7 on the nose,” Stanislav said. “I think they would like a range.”

The bill was defeated 6-3.

“Can you name another situation where we force the public to consume a chemical?” asked Sen. Adam Lowe, R-Calhoun, one of the dissenting votes.

Other states are considering removing fluoride or are issuing guidance on its inclusion in water.

Utah would be the first state to do so if Gov. Spencer Cox signs a bill passed earlier this year by lawmakers.

In Tennessee, the Woodlawn Utility District stopped adding fluoride to its drinking water in December, according to WRKN

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News from the South - Tennessee News Feed

Nashville’s geology has been misunderstood in tunneling talks — including by a Boring Company executive

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wpln.org – Caroline Eggers – 2025-08-12 14:53:00

SUMMARY: The Boring Company plans to build a tunnel connecting downtown Nashville to the airport, but the city’s limestone geology poses challenges. Nashville sits on porous limestone formed during the Ordovician period, making it prone to sinkholes and underground instability. Experts warn tunneling in this karst terrain is hazardous, risking sinkhole formation and disrupting water flow. Studies urge disaster planning due to unpredictable fractured rock and water movement. Local geological data is outdated, complicating risk assessment. Nashville’s climate extremes, including heavy rainfall, could exacerbate these issues. Elon Musk’s company favors fewer pre-project reviews, raising safety concerns amid uncertain environmental impacts.

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Former Mid-South prison could become Tennessee ICE detention center

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www.youtube.com – FOX13 Memphis – 2025-08-12 13:04:39

SUMMARY: A small West Tennessee town is deciding whether to reopen a former Mid-South prison as an ICE detention center. The facility, closed since 2021 after the Biden administration phased out private prison contracts, is owned by CoreCivic. Town leaders will vote on a contract with ICE and CoreCivic to house immigrants. Residents have mixed reactions: some worry about the impact of an ICE facility, while others see potential job opportunities, with CoreCivic promising nearly 240 local jobs and over 3,000 applicants. CoreCivic emphasizes they do not enforce immigration laws but provide care and legal due process.

Town leaders in Mason are set to decide Tuesday whether to reopen a closed detention facility as an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) site—a proposal that is drawing mixed reactions from residents. READ MORE: https://www.fox13memphis.com/news/residents-divided-on-possible-new-mid-south-ice-facility/article_a4523a44-68c8-4ef3-a0da-b9cf86a2d916.html

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Small West Tennessee town weighs ICE detention contract

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www.wkrn.com – Kelly Milan – 2025-08-11 22:23:00

SUMMARY: Mason, Tennessee, a small town of about 1,300, is deciding whether to approve a contract with ICE and CoreCivic to reopen the West Tennessee Detention Facility, closed since 2021. CoreCivic aims to house immigrant detainees, promising nearly 240 jobs and significant tax revenue for Mason. However, lifelong resident Eloise Thompson and immigrant rights groups oppose the plan, citing community harm and the negative impact of a for-profit private prison. CoreCivic insists it will provide humane care under government oversight and does not enforce immigration laws. A special town meeting Tuesday will finalize the decision amid expected protests.

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