Cassandra Stephenson
@cstephenson.bsky.social
Reporting on rural West TN for @TNLookout | @Report4America Corps Member | Formerly @Tennessean @JSunNews | Tips welcome: cstephenson@tennesseelookout.com
Reposted by Cassandra Stephenson
BREAKING: A Davidson County chancellor on Monday temporarily blocked Gov. Bill Lee from continuing to deploy the Tennessee National Guard in Memphis. Reported by @cstephenson.bsky.social and @anitawadhwani.bsky.social.
Judge temporarily blocks National Guard deployment in Memphis • Tennessee Lookout
A Davidson County chancellor on Monday temporarily blocked Gov. Bill Lee from continuing to deploy the Tennessee National Guard in Memphis.
tennesseelookout.com
November 18, 2025 at 3:28 AM
BREAKING: A Davidson County chancellor on Monday temporarily blocked Gov. Bill Lee from continuing to deploy the Tennessee National Guard in Memphis. Reported by @cstephenson.bsky.social and @anitawadhwani.bsky.social.
Reposted by Cassandra Stephenson
The U.S. Department of Agriculture is launching the second round of relief funding for farmers who suffered losses from natural disasters in 2023 and 2024, USDA officials announced Monday, reports @cstephenson.bsky.social.
USDA launches new round of disaster relief aimed at uncovered farmers and ‘shallow losses’ • Tennessee Lookout
The U.S. Department of Agriculture is launching the second round of relief funding for farmers who suffered losses from natural disasters in 2023 and 2024, USDA officials announced Monday. Tennessee f...
tennesseelookout.com
November 17, 2025 at 11:00 PM
The U.S. Department of Agriculture is launching the second round of relief funding for farmers who suffered losses from natural disasters in 2023 and 2024, USDA officials announced Monday, reports @cstephenson.bsky.social.
Reposted by Cassandra Stephenson
Dozens of Tennessee hardwood companies join industry plea for federal relief from tariff hardships tennesseelookout.com/2025/11/17/d... @cstephenson.bsky.social @tennesseelookout.com
Dozens of TN hardwood companies join industry plea for federal relief from tariff hardships • Tennessee Lookout
Nearly 40 Tennessee hardwood companies are among hundreds of U.S. hardwood operators asking for relief from tariff-induced economic hardship.
tennesseelookout.com
November 17, 2025 at 2:25 PM
Dozens of Tennessee hardwood companies join industry plea for federal relief from tariff hardships tennesseelookout.com/2025/11/17/d... @cstephenson.bsky.social @tennesseelookout.com
Reposted by Cassandra Stephenson
“I Don’t Feel Safe”: Black Memphis Residents Report Harassment by Trump’s Police Task Force
Story from @mlk50.com
tennesseelookout.com/2025/11/04/i... @tennesseelookout.com
Story from @mlk50.com
tennesseelookout.com/2025/11/04/i... @tennesseelookout.com
“I Don’t Feel Safe”: Black Memphis Residents Report Harassment by Trump’s Police Task Force • Tennessee Lookout
The Memphis Safe Task Force has innocent residents of majority-Black Memphis, including a 72-year-old taken from his home in his underwear.
tennesseelookout.com
November 4, 2025 at 11:31 PM
“I Don’t Feel Safe”: Black Memphis Residents Report Harassment by Trump’s Police Task Force
Story from @mlk50.com
tennesseelookout.com/2025/11/04/i... @tennesseelookout.com
Story from @mlk50.com
tennesseelookout.com/2025/11/04/i... @tennesseelookout.com
Reposted by Cassandra Stephenson
The Memphis Safe Task Force won’t release the names of more than 1,000 individuals it has arrested or provide details about the charges they face -- details routinely made available to the media and public. But multiple agencies have ignored requests for information or declined to release it.
Tennessee, feds provide few details on cost, arrests three weeks into Memphis task force • Tennessee Lookout
The Memphis Safe Task Force won’t release the names of more than 1,000 people it has arrested or provide details about the charges they face.
tennesseelookout.com
October 21, 2025 at 3:24 PM
The Memphis Safe Task Force won’t release the names of more than 1,000 individuals it has arrested or provide details about the charges they face -- details routinely made available to the media and public. But multiple agencies have ignored requests for information or declined to release it.
Reposted by Cassandra Stephenson
“That’s the craziest shit ever,” one driver said after 45-minute traffic stop in one of Memphis' poorest neighborhoods by multiple officers w the Highway Patrol, FBI, Homeland Security, & US Marshals
His crime: a dangling front bumper.
tennesseelookout.com/2025/10/20/t... @cstephenson.bsky.social
His crime: a dangling front bumper.
tennesseelookout.com/2025/10/20/t... @cstephenson.bsky.social
Traffic citations outnumber federal task force’s arrests in Memphis; sparse data leaves impact murky • Tennessee Lookout
Officers from multiple federal and state agencies have issued more than 4,600 traffic citations with the Memphis Safe Task Force.
tennesseelookout.com
October 20, 2025 at 2:29 PM
“That’s the craziest shit ever,” one driver said after 45-minute traffic stop in one of Memphis' poorest neighborhoods by multiple officers w the Highway Patrol, FBI, Homeland Security, & US Marshals
His crime: a dangling front bumper.
tennesseelookout.com/2025/10/20/t... @cstephenson.bsky.social
His crime: a dangling front bumper.
tennesseelookout.com/2025/10/20/t... @cstephenson.bsky.social
Reposted by Cassandra Stephenson
Jack Daniel’s is terminating a decades-long program that provided the company’s corn byproduct “slop” to local cattle farmers at low or no cost, allowing the farmers to inexpensively feed their cattle -- a change that has left Moore County farmers reeling. From @cstephenson.bsky.social.
Jack Daniel’s is ending a program that helped farmers feed cows with its scraps. What happens now? • Tennessee Lookout
Jack Daniel’s is terminating a program that provided the company’s corn byproduct “slop” to local cattle farmers at low or no cost.
tennesseelookout.com
October 6, 2025 at 3:06 PM
Jack Daniel’s is terminating a decades-long program that provided the company’s corn byproduct “slop” to local cattle farmers at low or no cost, allowing the farmers to inexpensively feed their cattle -- a change that has left Moore County farmers reeling. From @cstephenson.bsky.social.
Reposted by Cassandra Stephenson
Tennessee has set execution dates for four people, including Christa Pike, the lone woman on death row. If Pike is put to death, she would be the first woman executed in Tennessee in more than 200 years.
Tennessee Supreme Court sets 2026 execution dates for Christa Pike, three others
Christa Pike is the only woman on death row. Gary Wayne Sutton and supporters maintain he is innocent. Tony Carruthers represented himself at trial.
www.tennessean.com
October 1, 2025 at 3:41 PM
Tennessee has set execution dates for four people, including Christa Pike, the lone woman on death row. If Pike is put to death, she would be the first woman executed in Tennessee in more than 200 years.
Reposted by Cassandra Stephenson
Tennessee National Guard, federal law enforcement and increased presence of state troopers coming to Memphis next week, making it the third city in the country to see this kind of surge under the Trump administration
tennesseelookout.com/2025/09/26/t... @tennesseelookout.com
tennesseelookout.com/2025/09/26/t... @tennesseelookout.com
Tennessee National Guard set for Memphis deployment next week • Tennessee Lookout
Tennessee National Guard troops as part of a crime-fighting effort in Memphis won't carry weapons unless asked by police, said Gov. Bill Lee.
tennesseelookout.com
September 26, 2025 at 6:26 PM
Tennessee National Guard, federal law enforcement and increased presence of state troopers coming to Memphis next week, making it the third city in the country to see this kind of surge under the Trump administration
tennesseelookout.com/2025/09/26/t... @tennesseelookout.com
tennesseelookout.com/2025/09/26/t... @tennesseelookout.com
Reposted by Cassandra Stephenson
Tennessee still ranks high in projected EV jobs amid industry uncertainty. That's thanks to 5800 jobs promised in rural Tennessee by Ford Motor Company, which has now delayed its EV plant opening until 2028
@cstephenson.bsky.social
tennesseelookout.com/2025/09/24/r... @tennesseelookout.com
@cstephenson.bsky.social
tennesseelookout.com/2025/09/24/r... @tennesseelookout.com
Report: Tennessee keeps high rank in projected EV jobs amid industry uncertainty • Tennessee Lookout
Tennessee remains among the nation’s top four states for highest number of anticipated electric vehicle manufacturing jobs.
tennesseelookout.com
September 24, 2025 at 3:04 PM
Tennessee still ranks high in projected EV jobs amid industry uncertainty. That's thanks to 5800 jobs promised in rural Tennessee by Ford Motor Company, which has now delayed its EV plant opening until 2028
@cstephenson.bsky.social
tennesseelookout.com/2025/09/24/r... @tennesseelookout.com
@cstephenson.bsky.social
tennesseelookout.com/2025/09/24/r... @tennesseelookout.com
Reposted by Cassandra Stephenson
Former Tennessee Republican House Speaker gets 3y in federal prison, $30k fine in scheme to profit from legislature's postage/printing fund
A former aide was sentenced to 30 months last week. Ex Rep. Robin Smith to be sentenced next month
tennesseelookout.com/2025/09/23/f... @tennesseelookout.com
A former aide was sentenced to 30 months last week. Ex Rep. Robin Smith to be sentenced next month
tennesseelookout.com/2025/09/23/f... @tennesseelookout.com
Former Tennessee House speaker sentenced to three years in federal prison • Tennessee Lookout
Six years after being bounced from the Tennessee House speakership, former Rep. Glen Casada was sentenced Tuesday to 36 months in prison for his role in a kickback scheme. U.S. District Judge Eli Rich...
tennesseelookout.com
September 23, 2025 at 7:54 PM
Former Tennessee Republican House Speaker gets 3y in federal prison, $30k fine in scheme to profit from legislature's postage/printing fund
A former aide was sentenced to 30 months last week. Ex Rep. Robin Smith to be sentenced next month
tennesseelookout.com/2025/09/23/f... @tennesseelookout.com
A former aide was sentenced to 30 months last week. Ex Rep. Robin Smith to be sentenced next month
tennesseelookout.com/2025/09/23/f... @tennesseelookout.com
Reposted by Cassandra Stephenson
A pipeline supplying water from the Cumberland River to the fast-growing Maury and Williamson counties is feasible, but it could cost up to $1.9 billion in 2025 dollars, according to a feasibility study released this week by the Mallory Valley Utility District. From @cstephenson.bsky.social.
Study: Cumberland River pipeline to Maury, Williamson counties could cost $2B • Tennessee Lookout
A pipeline supplying water from the Cumberland River to Maury and Williamson counties is feasible, but could cost up to $1.9 billion.
tennesseelookout.com
September 19, 2025 at 5:25 PM
A pipeline supplying water from the Cumberland River to the fast-growing Maury and Williamson counties is feasible, but it could cost up to $1.9 billion in 2025 dollars, according to a feasibility study released this week by the Mallory Valley Utility District. From @cstephenson.bsky.social.
Reposted by Cassandra Stephenson
Tennessee House Speaker wants state to activate an anti-gang “strike force" working w National Guard to target gang activity in Memphis.
He said U.S. attorney could prosecute, bypassing local DA, considered soft on crime by Republicans
tennesseelookout.com/2025/09/12/s... @tennesseelookout.com
He said U.S. attorney could prosecute, bypassing local DA, considered soft on crime by Republicans
tennesseelookout.com/2025/09/12/s... @tennesseelookout.com
Stockard on the Stump: Tennessee House speaker wants “strike force” to hit Memphis gangs • Tennessee Lookout
Tennessee House Speaker Cameron Sexton is calling for federal and state troops to be deployed to Memphis as a "strike force."
tennesseelookout.com
September 12, 2025 at 2:51 PM
Tennessee House Speaker wants state to activate an anti-gang “strike force" working w National Guard to target gang activity in Memphis.
He said U.S. attorney could prosecute, bypassing local DA, considered soft on crime by Republicans
tennesseelookout.com/2025/09/12/s... @tennesseelookout.com
He said U.S. attorney could prosecute, bypassing local DA, considered soft on crime by Republicans
tennesseelookout.com/2025/09/12/s... @tennesseelookout.com
Reposted by Cassandra Stephenson
In a win for wetlands conservation, the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency is potentially a few months away from purchasing about 7,500 acres of land along the Hatchie River for conservation and outdoor recreation. @cstephenson.bsky.social reports.
TN Wildlife Agency to purchase 7.5K acres of huntable wetlands along Hatchie River • Tennessee Lookout
The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency may buy about 7,500 acres of land along the Hatchie River for conservation and outdoor recreation.
tennesseelookout.com
September 9, 2025 at 2:24 PM
In a win for wetlands conservation, the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency is potentially a few months away from purchasing about 7,500 acres of land along the Hatchie River for conservation and outdoor recreation. @cstephenson.bsky.social reports.
Reposted by Cassandra Stephenson
As federal prosecutors push harder for swift deportations and accounts of immigration officers arresting people at court hearings circulate, a Memphis-based legal nonprofit and clergy members are working together to ensure these events don’t go unwitnessed. From @cstephenson.bsky.social.
Memphis legal nonprofit, clergy look to create immigration court watch program • Tennessee Lookout
Father Juan Antonio “Tony” Romo of Memphis has organized a group of priests to attend immigration court proceedings and bear witness.
tennesseelookout.com
September 8, 2025 at 6:15 PM
As federal prosecutors push harder for swift deportations and accounts of immigration officers arresting people at court hearings circulate, a Memphis-based legal nonprofit and clergy members are working together to ensure these events don’t go unwitnessed. From @cstephenson.bsky.social.
Reposted by Cassandra Stephenson
Memphis legal nonprofit and local clergy are putting together an immigration court watch program as federal government sends immigration agents to detain those showing up for routine immigration hearings
tennesseelookout.com/2025/09/08/m... @cstephenson.bsky.social @tennesseelookout.com
tennesseelookout.com/2025/09/08/m... @cstephenson.bsky.social @tennesseelookout.com
Memphis legal nonprofit, clergy look to create immigration court watch program • Tennessee Lookout
Father Juan Antonio “Tony” Romo of Memphis has organized a group of priests to attend immigration court proceedings and bear witness.
tennesseelookout.com
September 8, 2025 at 2:02 PM
Memphis legal nonprofit and local clergy are putting together an immigration court watch program as federal government sends immigration agents to detain those showing up for routine immigration hearings
tennesseelookout.com/2025/09/08/m... @cstephenson.bsky.social @tennesseelookout.com
tennesseelookout.com/2025/09/08/m... @cstephenson.bsky.social @tennesseelookout.com
Reposted by Cassandra Stephenson
Trump administration moves rapidly closer to ending protections for 58M acres of national forests, including 85,000 in Tennessee - announcing an abbreviated public comment period before the rule allowing logging, mining takes effect
tennesseelookout.com/briefs/trump... @tennesseelookout.com
tennesseelookout.com/briefs/trump... @tennesseelookout.com
Trump administration moves closer to ending protections for 58M acres of national forests • Tennessee Lookout
The Trump administration is proceeding with a plan to open up 85,000 acres of Tennessee forests for development.
tennesseelookout.com
September 3, 2025 at 2:36 PM
Trump administration moves rapidly closer to ending protections for 58M acres of national forests, including 85,000 in Tennessee - announcing an abbreviated public comment period before the rule allowing logging, mining takes effect
tennesseelookout.com/briefs/trump... @tennesseelookout.com
tennesseelookout.com/briefs/trump... @tennesseelookout.com
Reposted by Cassandra Stephenson
A company looking to make clean drinking water more climate-resilient and accessible during disasters found an ideal testing ground in an unlikely place: singer-songwriter Amy Grant’s Williamson County farm. From @cstephenson.bsky.social,
Drinking water tech tested on Amy Grant’s farm now used for disaster relief, climate resilience • Tennessee Lookout
Altitude Water, which makes clean drinking water climate-resilient and accessible during disasters, tested their product at Amy Grant’s farm.
tennesseelookout.com
September 2, 2025 at 2:20 PM
A company looking to make clean drinking water more climate-resilient and accessible during disasters found an ideal testing ground in an unlikely place: singer-songwriter Amy Grant’s Williamson County farm. From @cstephenson.bsky.social,
Reposted by Cassandra Stephenson
Pools covered in “mats of algae and slimes,” a state inspector described a Mt. Juliet wastewater area in a neighborhood. @cstephenson.bsky.social reports environmental groups plan to sue Wilson County's wastewater authority over discharge of polluted water.
Orgs plan to sue Wilson Co. wastewater authority over drainage into Cumberland tributary • Tennessee Lookout
The Southern Environmental Law Center plans to sue Wilson County’s wastewater authority over a Mount Juliet facility that pollutes water.
tennesseelookout.com
August 27, 2025 at 2:33 PM
Pools covered in “mats of algae and slimes,” a state inspector described a Mt. Juliet wastewater area in a neighborhood. @cstephenson.bsky.social reports environmental groups plan to sue Wilson County's wastewater authority over discharge of polluted water.
Reposted by Cassandra Stephenson
USDA invests $89M, mostly in loans, to improve rural Tennessee utilities tennesseelookout.com/briefs/usda-... @cstephenson.bsky.social
USDA invests $89M, mostly in loans, to improve rural Tennessee utilities • Tennessee Lookout
The U.S. Department of Agriculture invested $89 million to rural Tennessee communities to support improvements to electric utilities.
tennesseelookout.com
August 26, 2025 at 2:09 PM
USDA invests $89M, mostly in loans, to improve rural Tennessee utilities tennesseelookout.com/briefs/usda-... @cstephenson.bsky.social
Reposted by Cassandra Stephenson
Trump creates ‘quick reaction force’ out of state Guard troops for law enforcement tennesseelookout.com/2025/08/25/r... @fischler.bsky.social @tennesseelookout.com
Trump creates 'quick reaction force' out of state Guard troops for law enforcement • Tennessee Lookout
President Donald Trump signed an executive order directing state National Guard to be ready to assist local, state and federal law enforcement.
tennesseelookout.com
August 25, 2025 at 8:50 PM
Trump creates ‘quick reaction force’ out of state Guard troops for law enforcement tennesseelookout.com/2025/08/25/r... @fischler.bsky.social @tennesseelookout.com
Reposted by Cassandra Stephenson
Kilmar Abrego Garcia was released today pending trial on human smuggling charges in Tennessee. His wrongful deportation to a Salvadoran prison brought scrutiny of the Trump administration's immigration crackdown tactics. @anitawadhwani.bsky.social reports:
Kilmar Abrego Garcia released from custody in Tennessee • Tennessee Lookout
Kilmar Abrego Garcia, whose wrongful deportation to a prison in El Salvador brought widespread public scrutiny of the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown tactics, was released from a rural…
tennesseelookout.com
August 22, 2025 at 8:02 PM
Kilmar Abrego Garcia was released today pending trial on human smuggling charges in Tennessee. His wrongful deportation to a Salvadoran prison brought scrutiny of the Trump administration's immigration crackdown tactics. @anitawadhwani.bsky.social reports:
Reposted by Cassandra Stephenson
The board controlling the West Tennessee Megasite — home to Ford’s BlueOval City electric vehicle campus — unanimously approved zoning rules that require more protections for Memphis Sand Aquifer, the region’s drinking water source.
tennesseelookout.com/2025/07/24/w... @cstephenson.bsky.social
tennesseelookout.com/2025/07/24/w... @cstephenson.bsky.social
West Tennessee Megasite Authority adopts stronger zoning protections for Memphis Aquifer • Tennessee Lookout
The board controlling the West Tennessee Megasite — home to Ford’s BlueOval City electric vehicle and battery manufacturing campus — unanimously approved zoning rules Wednesday that require greater pr...
tennesseelookout.com
July 24, 2025 at 2:46 PM
The board controlling the West Tennessee Megasite — home to Ford’s BlueOval City electric vehicle campus — unanimously approved zoning rules that require more protections for Memphis Sand Aquifer, the region’s drinking water source.
tennesseelookout.com/2025/07/24/w... @cstephenson.bsky.social
tennesseelookout.com/2025/07/24/w... @cstephenson.bsky.social
Reposted by Cassandra Stephenson
Tennessee, local governments will forgo sales taxes on $4.5B nuclear facility coming to Oak Ridge, Tenn. after lawmakers carved out exceptions earlier this year, catching Oak Ridge/Anderson Co officials by surprise
tennesseelookout.com/2025/07/23/t...
tennesseelookout.com/2025/07/23/t...
Tennessee, local governments will forgo sales taxes on $4.5B nuclear facility • Tennessee Lookout
Tennessee officials hailed a uranium enrichment facility deal for East Tennessee in 2024 but months later exempted the project from sales taxes, forcing local governments to forgo untold revenue from…
tennesseelookout.com
July 23, 2025 at 1:36 PM
Tennessee, local governments will forgo sales taxes on $4.5B nuclear facility coming to Oak Ridge, Tenn. after lawmakers carved out exceptions earlier this year, catching Oak Ridge/Anderson Co officials by surprise
tennesseelookout.com/2025/07/23/t...
tennesseelookout.com/2025/07/23/t...
Reposted by Cassandra Stephenson
South Memphis neighborhood to shape plan to protect Memphis Aquifer drinking water tennesseelookout.com/briefs/south... @cstephenson.bsky.social
South Memphis neighborhood to shape plan to protect Memphis Aquifer drinking water • Tennessee Lookout
Residents of a South Memphis neighborhood will soon embark on a first-of-its-kind project to craft a protection plan for the drinking water stored in the earth beneath them. The Memphis Sand Aquifer…
tennesseelookout.com
July 23, 2025 at 2:18 PM
South Memphis neighborhood to shape plan to protect Memphis Aquifer drinking water tennesseelookout.com/briefs/south... @cstephenson.bsky.social