Tim Leeper testified before a legislative committee following his son’s fatal stabbing at CoreCivic’s Trousdale Turner prison, amid calls to end the private operator’s contract. Trousdale Turner has faced a June 8 riot and 41 indictments linked to violence and mismanagement. District Attorney Jason Lawson and Rep. Michael Hale urge Tennessee’s Department of Correction to take over, citing CoreCivic’s failure to maintain safety despite heavy penalties and a federal civil rights probe. Governor Bill Lee acknowledged issues but has been slow to act. Lawmakers continue debating reforms and penalizing CoreCivic for high death rates and understaffing.
It took a riot and multiple indictments, but the chorus of calls is growing to boot the state’s private-prison operator out of a Hartsville correctional center.
Republican state Rep. Michael Hale of Smithville, saying in a social media post he is “deeply concerned” about recurring problems at Trousdale Turner, joined District Attorney General Jason Lawson in calling for the Tennessee Department of Correction to take over operations at the facility run under contract with Brentwood-based CoreCivic.
The Trousdale County grand jury recently returned 41 indictments for incidents at Trousdale Turner, 12 of them connected to the June 8 riot when inmates stabbed a staffer and took over an inner yard. Lawson said more indictments will be issued as investigators review video footage.
In seeking a new operator, Lawson said crimes at the prison have added hundreds of cases to Trousdale County’s court docket over the last few years, roughly one every four days. Yet adding time to inmates’ sentences doesn’t improve inmate safety at the prison.
“The continued problems demonstrate that CoreCivic is unable to address the issues. I understand that Tennessee needs the bedspace at Trousdale Turner to house state prisoners, however, it is long overdue that the state of Tennessee shifted the management of Trousdale Turner from CoreCivic into the direct hands of the Tennessee Department of Correction,” Lawson said in a statement.
The legislature passed a measure this year designed to penalize CoreCivic by removing inmates from the prisons it operates if the death rate at any of those facilities exceeds the rate at state-run prisons.
The continued problems demonstrate that CoreCivic is unable to address the issues. . . It is long overdue that the state of Tennessee shifted the management of Trousdale Turner from CoreCivic into the direct hands of the Tennessee Department of Correction.
– District Attorney General Jason Lawson
The early June riot is causing a greater awakening.
But Gov. Bill Lee remains slow to act and doesn’t appear to be anywhere near putting the state over Trousdale Turner.
“The state has an obligation to hold CoreCivic accountable,” Lee said this week in response to questions. Lee acknowledged, though, the state is responsible for making sure the prison operates correctly.
He declined to discuss details or whether CoreCivic should make changes as authorities investigate.
The state has penalized the company $44.78 million since 2022 for contractual shortfalls, including $15 million in late 2024 and early 2025. Liquidated damages total $570,825 this year alone.
Those are mainly for personnel shortages at CoreCivic-run prisons, which were 7 percentage points higher than at state-operated facilities early this year and cause problems with overseeing inmates.
The state pays CoreCivic about $240 million annually despite audits detailing low staffing, violence and deaths, and a federal civil rights investigation into Trousdale Turner, which hasn’t stopped, even under the Trump administration.
Sen. Mark Pody, a Lebanon Republican, is set to tour Trousdale Turner prison.(Photo: John Partipilo)
Republican Sen. Ferrell Haile of Gallatin said he and other lawmakers, as well as constituents, are “fed up” with the problems at Trousdale Turner, according to the Hartsville Vidette.
Haile isn’t quite ready for the state to take over the prison and noted he isn’t certain what steps the Department of Correction would have to take since operations involve a three-way contract of sorts between Tennessee, Trousdale County and CoreCivic. He plans to visit prisons to get a better understanding.
“I’m not at that point. I won’t say that I might not get there. But there’s got to be some drastic changes up there, and I know they’ve made some,” Haile said.
A CoreCivic spokesman said Wednesday the company is committed to operating “safe and secure facilities” and is conducting a “thorough review” of its policies to prevent rioting.
Republican Sen. Mark Pody of Lebanon, who sponsored the bill to penalize CoreCivic for high death rates, told the Lookout he wants a review of the entire prison system. He is set to tour the facility with Correction Commissioner Frank Strada, who has called CoreCivic a “partner” with the state.
“I’m going up there to hammer out what this looks like and what the options might be,” Pody said. “We definitely can’t have what just happened with that riot and guards being taken hostage.”
Trousdale Turner is the most “visible” problem, Pody said, but he believes the issues run “deeper” than Trousdale.
Get on board
Add Lee to the list of Republican state leaders who believe Nashville Mayor Freddie O’Connell should be oblivious to ICE sweeps in the city he governs.
Following the dragnet of a South Nashville neighborhood in early June when Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents swept up nearly 200 immigrants, O’Connell updated an executive order requiring Metro Nashville personnel to notify his office within 24 hours of an ICE encounter. Former Mayor David Briley issued the original order five years earlier, but O’Connell is taking the political heat these days from people such as House Speaker Cameron Sexton, who urged him to rescind it. O’Connell came under federal scrutiny, too, when Metro accidentally posted the identities of ICE agents involved in the roundup.
“I don’t think it’s helpful that they report that. I think anything that impedes the assistance toward the federal government’s efforts, anything that impedes that is not helpful,” he said during a short press conference this week.
Oddly enough, Lee and other Tennessee lawmakers frequently say the federal government should keep its nose out of state business such as educating kids, including special needs children, and taking care of the poor – until the state is overwhelmed by something such as a massive flood.
Once President Donald Trump started his deportation program, Lee jumped at the opportunity to spend money helping the feds pull immigrants off the streets, putting $200 million toward grants for local law enforcement to join the battle and creating a secretive immigration enforcement bureau within the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security. Interestingly enough, it hired a director before the fiscal 2025-26 budget took effect July 1.
Is that jumping the gun?
Either way, Lee appears to love the feds more than one of his own mayors.
Nevermind, go ahead
The legislature’s Fiscal Review Committee approved a three-year $30.6 million contract this week with Fast Enterprises to run the Department of Revenue’s tax collection system despite lawmakers’ reservations that it signaled a 40% cost increase.
Republican Rep. Rush Bricken of Tullahoma raised the biggest fuss, saying the state is paying substantially more for 15 Enterprise employees than it is for the computer program.
Bricken told Revenue officials the state “doesn’t need 15 folks sitting around waiting for direction.”
A department representative responded that those people are not twiddling their thumbs, instead responding yearly to multiple legislative changes in tax collections and, in fact, are “more cost-effective than state employees.”
“I hope they do work hard,” Bricken said, considering their salaries are costing the state about $466,000 per person.
But as Bricken and other lawmakers questioned the expense, they were notified the state had moved forward with the contract on Monday, the day before the Fiscal Review meeting, using a waiver to execute it.
Fiscal Review Director Bojan Savic told lawmakers the state had to work quickly because its contract with Fast Enterprises was expiring.
Rather than send the contract back to the drawing board, lawmakers took a voice vote to forge ahead.
After this tempest of sorts, everybody came out happy, especially those making nearly half a million a year.
Bring your cushions
Former Tennessee House Speaker Glen Casada is seeking a new trial after being convicted in a four-week political corruption case.
Casada’s attorneys say prosecutors inadvertently played audiotape of his initial interview with FBI agents when he said co-defendant Cade Cothren, his former chief of staff, couldn’t “deal” because Speaker Sexton didn’t like him. The playing of that unredacted recording, which nearly led to a mistrial, is the basis for the new trial request, according to The Tennessean.
Cothren was convicted on 19 counts and Casada on 17 counts of bribery, kickbacks, fraud and money laundering connected to a secret political vendor named Phoenix Solutions that operated from late 2019 to mid-2020.
Casada and Cothren were expected to appeal the verdict anyway. The question is whether anyone can stand to sit on those federal court benches for another four weeks. They will put a body in traction.
Tennessee House Speaker Cameron Sexton, pictured at a Tuesday event in Franklin, says he has no plans to run for Congress. (Photo: John Partipilo/Tennessee Lookout)
In or out?
Rumors have been flying for more than a year about a congressional run by House Speaker Sexton. But in a short chat Tuesday with the Lookout, Sexton said he is not running for Congress.
Still, he’s set to make a big announcement in August. Unless he’s admitting he lives in Nashville instead of Crossville, it won’t be much of a news event, unless, of course, he says he will be seeking the governor’s office. That would put him head-to-head with U.S. Rep. John Rose and, possibly, U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn, who has been crowned the next governor but hasn’t officially entered the race.
According to news reports, she pushed a moratorium on state oversight of artificial intelligence out of Trump’s budget plan, proving she is worth every piece of China she smashed in a campaign ad before the last election.
“Broken dishes, broken parts / Streets are filled with broken hearts”.
*Bob Dylan – “Everything is Broken”
GET THE MORNING HEADLINES.
SUBSCRIBE
Tennessee Lookout is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Tennessee Lookout maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Holly McCall for questions: info@tennesseelookout.com.
Note: The following A.I. based commentary is not part of the original article, reproduced above, but is offered in the hopes that it will promote greater media literacy and critical thinking, by making any potential bias more visible to the reader –Staff Editor.
Political Bias Rating: Center-Left
This content displays a center-left bias characterized by a critical view of private prison management and skepticism toward Republican-led state government actions, especially regarding public safety and immigration enforcement. While it reports statements from Republican officials, it often highlights shortcomings and controversies linked to them, including private prison issues, immigration policies, and allegations of political corruption. The tone and selection of topics tend to favor greater government accountability and oversight, which aligns more with center-left perspectives, though it maintains an overall balanced presentation without strong partisan rhetoric.
SUMMARY: A new fully licensed childcare center, operated by the nonprofit Royal Table Inc., has opened in North Nashville’s 37208 zip code to address the city’s childcare crisis. Serving children from 6 weeks to 5 years and offering before- and after-school care up to age 17, the center emphasizes Literacy and STEAM education. It provides affordable care with sliding scale tuition, nutritious meals, and extended hours. Located near TSU, Fisk University, and Meharry Medical College, the center also offers community programs like parenting workshops and literacy nights, aiming to empower families and support lifelong success in a safe, nurturing environment. Enrollment is open.
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.
www.thecentersquare.com – By Kim Jarrett | The Center Square – (The Center Square – ) 2025-07-28 17:14:00
The Boring Company, founded by Elon Musk, plans to build a 10-mile underground tunnel called the “Music City Loop” from Nashville’s airport to downtown, promising an eight-minute trip. Announced by U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee, the project aims to reduce traffic congestion and cost no taxpayer money. Construction could start soon and finish by fall 2026. The tunnel may include stations, and The Boring Company is actively hiring. While officials praise the innovation and economic benefits, some, like State Rep. Aftyn Behn, oppose it, accusing Musk of exploiting public resources, launching a petition against the plan.
(The Center Square) – Motorists may no longer have to dodge construction and heavy traffic driving from the Nashville airport to downtown if a plan by a private company comes to fruition.
U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy joined Gov. Bill Lee on Monday in announcing an underground tunnel project he said will come at no cost to taxpayers. The 10-mile loop will transport passengers by automobile from the airport to downtown in about eight minutes, Lee said.
The Boring Company, founded by Elon Musk, will begin construction on the project dubbed the “Music City Loop,” as soon as approvals are received, the company said. It could be completed as soon as the fall of 2026, according to information from Lee.
“By leveraging the innovation of private sector companies like The Boring Company, we’re exploring possibilities we couldn’t achieve on our own as a state,” Lee said. “This partnership represents the kind of forward-thinking, fiscally responsible approach that will define the future of transportation in Tennessee.”
The tunnels could have stations in between, Steve Davis, president of The Boring Company, said at a news conference. The company is moving fast on hiring employees and will have a hiring event this week, he said.
Duffy said the Music City Loop is the kind of innovative project the Trump administration wants.
“I think this is a great way to cut through the red tape, to partner with private sector individuals and companies and move projects really fast,” Duffy said. “I think this project will go to great lengths to take more cars off the road, move people faster, create more business activity in your state and in your city, but also reduce the congestion of your great state.”
Lee said conversations with Nashville Mayor Freddie O’Connell, who was not in attendance at the news conference, have been “incredibly productive to get us where we are today.”
The Boring Company operates a similar project in Las Vegas. But projects in other cities, including Chicago and Washington, D.C., did not come to fruition, according to a report from Axios.
Not everyone is excited about the Music City Loop.
State Rep. Aftyn Behn, D-Nashville, has started an online petition opposing the tunnel.
“This is not about solving Nashville’s traffic problems,” Behn said in the petition. “This is about Elon Musk buying influence in our city and using public resources to pad his private empire. I don’t know about y’all, but this project will happen over my dead body.”
The petition had 1,532 signatures as of Monday afternoon.
Behn is running for the congressional seat vacated by the resignation of former Republican U.S. Rep. Mark Green.
Note: The following A.I. based commentary is not part of the original article, reproduced above, but is offered in the hopes that it will promote greater media literacy and critical thinking, by making any potential bias more visible to the reader –Staff Editor.
Political Bias Rating: Centrist
The article primarily reports on the proposed tunnel project in Nashville and the different viewpoints surrounding it. It presents quotes and actions from key figures on both sides, including Gov. Bill Lee and U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy promoting the project, as well as State Rep. Aftyn Behn opposing it with a petition. The language remains factual and neutral, simply describing the project, its backing, and opposition without editorializing or promoting any particular viewpoint. This balanced presentation indicates the content adheres to neutral, factual reporting rather than advancing a clear ideological stance.
