Axios Nashville
July 08, 2026
1 big thing: Reviving the ALS ice bucket challenge
Former Titans star Chris Johnson wants to use the revelation of being diagnosed with ALS to revive the ice bucket challenge.
Why it matters: The ice bucket challenge was a viral fundraising drive a decade ago that raised an estimated $135 million for ALS research.
How it works: People posted videos of themselves dumping buckets of ice-cold water on their heads and then challenged others to do the same.
- Johnson, who announced his ALS diagnosis in an interview last month on "Good Morning America," created the hashtag #cj2kicebucketchallange for people to use when posting their videos.
What he's saying: "The support you've shown me over the last few days has meant more than I can put into words," Johnson said in an Instagram post. "Seeing this video reminded me of something powerful. Years ago, the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge united millions of people around one cause and helped change the fight against this disease. Today, I'm asking you to help me do it again."
Zoom in: Closer to home, a local initiative lets Tennessee residents help raise funds for ALS research.
- The Vanderbilt ALS Research Center partnered with the state for an ALS license plate.
🚘 State of plate: It costs $35 to preorder a plate and a portion goes to ALS research.
- As of last week, 95 plates had been ordered. It takes 1,000 orders by June 30, 2027, in order for the new plate to be produced.
2. Data centers' growing power needs
Data centers are already reshaping the power grid, a new report finds, with the demand for those facilities in the Tennessee Valley region pulling enough electricity to power more than 661,000 homes.
Why it matters: Policymakers at every level are scrambling to set rules around how data centers can operate in Tennessee, and the new report, from nonprofit ThinkTennessee, shows the stakes.
- If growth isn't managed properly, the report warns, the data center boom may strain grid reliability and push more costs onto residential households.
By the numbers: In the Tennessee Valley region, which includes most of this state as well as parts of six neighboring states, data center usage has skyrocketed in recent years, from 1.27 million megawatt-hours in 2020 to 9.16 million MWh in 2025, according to Tennessee Valley Authority data analyzed in the report.
State of play: Households are experiencing bigger electricity bills, while commercial customers have actually seen electricity costs go down, the report says.
- In parts of Tennessee that host data centers, residential electric bills rose 3.2% from 2023 to 2024, the report says, while commercial customers in those areas saw bills decrease by 0.2%.
What they're saying: "Data centers are very quickly changing the energy needs of our state," ThinkTennessee president Erin Hafkenschiel said in a statement. "Decisions made now about planning, pricing, and infrastructure will determine who bears the costs of this growth."
- "If we don't get it right, the potential risks to household energy costs might outweigh the positive economic growth impacts."
3. The Setlist: Lisa Spencer leaving WSMV
4. Dolly reveals Broadway dates for her musical
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