SUMMARY: The Tennessee Housing Development Agency is launching a project-based voucher program to improve access to affordable housing for Tennesseans holding housing vouchers but struggling to find landlords who accept them. About 6,200 Tennesseans receive vouchers, yet 600 face landlord refusal. This new program assigns vouchers directly to affordable housing units, easing the search for voucher holders. Initially, 5% of vouchers will be dedicated to this program, with plans to increase to 20%. Despite enthusiasm, lawmakers expressed concerns over potential federal funding cuts impacting the program’s future. The Government Operations Committee gave the initiative a positive recommendation.

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SUMMARY: Oak Ridge’s Robertsville school introduced a new house system schoolwide, piloted by sixth graders over the past three years with great success. The system includes four houses, similar to Harry Potter’s model but without Slytherin, each representing school values. Both students, teachers, and administrators belong to different houses, fostering a strong community and sense of belonging. This approach aims to improve attendance and students’ positive attitudes toward school by engaging everyone, including those not involved in athletics or extracurriculars. The excitement around house assignments is palpable as students start the school year, creating a welcoming, united school environment.

Teachers hope to foster a sense of belonging.

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SUMMARY: The American Civil Liberties Union of Tennessee and attorney Daniel Horwitz filed a lawsuit against Bartlett’s Board of Mayor and Aldermen for denying the Bartlett Muslim Society’s special-use permit to build a mosque. Despite a traffic study showing no negative impacts and support from the city’s planning and economic director, the planning commission unanimously denied the permit, while approving similar permits for Christian churches. The ACLU calls this discrimination violating federal and state religious freedom laws. The Society seeks court approval to build the mosque to accommodate worship and community needs. The lawsuit was filed in U.S. District Court for the Western District of Tennessee.

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