Good morning, Murfreesboro.

Today, families celebrate the Fourth of July in Murfreesboro and LaVergne.

In Murfreesboro, Celebration Under the Stars at The Fountains begins at 4:30 p.m. with food trucks, DJ (John Foster at 7:00 p.m.) and fireworks at 9:00 p.m.; in LaVergne, festivities at Veterans Memorial Park start at 5:30 p.m.

Country singer Jon Pardi and his wife Summer announced their divorce, saying they will co-parent their two daughters after marrying at Saddle Woods Farm in Murfreesboro in 2022.

Friday, July 3, Main Street Murfreesboro kicked off America 250 with the dedication of the America 250 Mural Mosaic at 105 S.

Church Street — and Friday Night Live with Entice on the Historic Downtown Square. Public Square closed at 5:00 p.m. for the celebration.

A recent study by SmartAsset ranks Murfreesboro No. 25 among America's fastest-growing cities, showing a 20% increase in housing and a 21% rise in its labor force over five years + the rapid growth is prompting local officials to prepare for rising demands on schools and roads.

Middle TN State University approved a search for a new president to succeed retiring Sidney McPhee, collecting stakeholder input and scheduling interviews later this fall; meanwhile, tuition will increase by nearly 4.5% to fund scholarships + faculty support, with additional board appointments and a major aerospace training project also announced.

Former State Senator Jim Tracy died at 66 after serving from 2005 until 2017.

His contributions were honored by a Senate Joint Resolution + the naming of a local overpass, while funeral arrangements have not yet been announced.

City Council approved a contract on Thursday awarding Keystone Partners LLC to install seven ADA-accessible bus shelters with solar lighting and seating later this year—plans based on ridership patterns and resident feedback to improve transit stops.

John and Jerry Carroll of Murfreesboro, aged 101 and 100, have celebrated 80 years of marriage by meeting with friends every Friday for breakfast at a local McDonald's near the corner of Compton Road (a cherished local tradition).

Local ice cream shops in and around Murfreesboro offer a cool escape from the intense summer heat — one shop churns small-batch, Tennessee dairy flavors while nearby outlets serve creative waffle cone treats for a sweet, refreshing break.

Hattie Jane’s Creamery is celebrating its 10th anniversary with a Celebration Parfait available through July 7 at its Murfreesboro shop + on July 19 for National Ice Cream Day, one customer will win a Golden Ticket for free ice cream for a year.

Weekly social media giveaways run throughout July.

Former Tennessee star Dalton Knecht was not chosen for the Lakers' summer league roster, raising concerns about his future role with the team.

Meanwhile, seven former Vols are set to compete in the NBA Summer League across five teams — a chance to strengthen their professional careers.

Taste of Rutherford

6-8 p.m. — Oaklands Mansion — $65 General Admission / $150 VIP — Enjoy tastings from over 25 local restaurants with live music at this annual fundraiser.

Free Legal Clinic – Rutherford County

3-5 p.m. — Greenhouse Ministries — Free consultation — Meet with an attorney for confidential advice on civil legal matters.