Good morning, Murfreesboro.

Applications for the 2025 Leadership Rutherford program are due by 4:30 p.m. on May 29 at the Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce—3050 Medical Center Parkway—, and the competitive program will select about 40 local leaders to build skills and strengthen community ties.

MTSU grad Reggie Polk was named Tennessee Small Business Administration Person of the Year on May 5 in Washington, D.C.—he owns Polk & Associates Construction Inc. in Brentwood and met SBA leaders on May 8 at Belmont University to discuss a $2 billion NFL stadium project.

On May 18th, a man was found with gunshot wounds in his vehicle near the Waldron Road exit on Interstate 24 in La Vergne and he was later pronounced dead – investigators are probing the case.

On May 13, MTSU hosted over 320 middle and high school girls at its second annual Ladies in Concrete event to show them how to work with concrete — the workshop featured eight workstations run by 17 local alumni and industry partners.

The event aimed to teach young women about concrete careers in a field that has traditionally been male-dominated.

For the week of Memorial Day, trash collection in Murfreesboro will shift as Monday’s pickup moves to Tuesday, Tuesday’s to Wednesday, Wednesday’s to Thursday, and Thursday’s to Friday — residents must set their trash cans out by 6 a.m. — so prepare accordingly.

Rep. Mike Sparks and Sen. Shane Reeves secured $250K in state funding to preserve Rutherford County's historic Cemetery Community, a settlement established by freed slaves and Black Civil War veterans near Stones River National Battlefield.

The Tennessee Department of Finance and Administration will administer two $125K grants to Friends of Cemetery School, Inc. (which oversees the heritage site) and the Mel Malone Family Foundation to ensure its legacy endures.

MTSU senior Tiffany Parker worked as a legislative intern in Rep. Sparks’ office during the 114th General Assembly, which ended in late April — she wrote press releases, answered calls, and did research — and she said the experience helped build her skills.

She plans to attend law school after she graduates.

The TSSAA soccer state tournament will begin on May 20 at the Richard Siegel Soccer Complex in Murfreesboro and run through May 23 as five state titles are awarded across divisions—Division II finals are scheduled for May 22 and Division I finals for May 23.

The TSSAA track and field state championships will run from May 20 to 22 at Dean A.

Hayes Track + Soccer Stadium with five meets in various classes. The schedule starts with Class A and AA events on May 20 and will include field and running tests with pentathlon and decathlon results to be posted later.

Asian American Pacific Islander Celebration

10 AM – 5 PM — Discovery Center at Murfree Spring — Free entry — Celebrate cultural diversity with interactive exhibits and performances for the whole family.

ODP South Intra-Regional Combine

8:00 a.m. — Richard Siegel Soccer Complex — Registration fee may apply — Participate in a skill assessment and showcase for aspiring soccer athletes.

Huge Stockpile Garage Sale

7 a.m. - 1 p.m. — Ashwood Cove Apartments — Bargain finds await — Discover treasures at this neighborhood garage sale in a family-friendly community.

Summertime Make & Take Workshop

2-2:45 p.m. — Board & Brush Creative Studio - Murfreesboro — Pre-registration required — Create a beautiful home décor piece step-by-step with provided materials.

Banana Pudding Festival

10 a.m. – 1 p.m. — Hop Springs — Free entry — Indulge in delicious banana pudding flavors at this sweet community celebration.

The Taste Food Festival

11 AM – 4 PM — Patterson Park Community Center — Admission varies — A vibrant community celebration featuring food tastings, live music, and local vendors.