Good morning, Murfreesboro.

Families in Murfreesboro can choose from over a dozen family-friendly events this week (including a toddler farm day at Cannonsburgh on Thursday morning, a night hike and campfire story at the Discovery Center, plus a back-to-school water festival over the weekend) to enjoy active learning and outdoor fun.

United Way of Greater Nashville partners with local groups to honor Dolly Parton by supporting the Imagination Library that mails free books to local children in Middle Tennessee; upcoming events include a Dolly-themed Run Nash: 9to5K Run & Walk on Sept 5 and other celebrations later in September.

Wawa, a Pennsylvania-based chain, held a ribbon cutting in Dickson on Wednesday — and announced its Lebanon store will open on Sept.

2 while the Murfreesboro location is set to open on Sept. 10.

Jim Free, a Middle Tennessee State University alum and former colleague of Dolly Parton, remembered the icon for her warmth and generosity after she died Aug.

25. Free recalled how she showed kindness to everyone from senators to kitchen staff at Capitol Hill events.

Middle Tennessee Electric announced a battery storage project with four sites using 2‐megawatt batteries — each storing 8 megawatt‐hours — to help lower grid costs.

Its partnership with MTSU’s Q-RISE Center uses quantum research to plan predictive charging, with units set to commission this fall.

MTSU President Sidney McPhee welcomed new Blue-Raider students at Convocation on Saturday, Aug.

22 at Murphy Center while urging them to build relationships and embrace opportunities; football coach Derek Mason invited families to the season opener on Saturday, Sept. 5 at Floyd Stadium.

MTSU’s Actuarial Science Program earned international recognition as a Center of Actuarial Excellence and Gold Tier status from the Casualty Actuarial Society.

It hosted its first High School Day on April 18 to introduce local students and parents to careers in risk management (math, statistics, and data science).

Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti announced a $17.1 billion settlement with Meta that will impose social media safety rules on kids today (including a two-hour daily limit, 15-minute breaks, nighttime blocks, and school-hour notification restrictions) while Tennessee receives over $751 million for mental health and safety programs.

Approximately 16,000 new homes are under development in the Blair Road and Waldron Road area — construction has begun and is expected to continue through 2031 across a roughly three-mile region including parts of Davidson, Williamson, Smyrna, and La Vergne.

Siegel’s Nori Akers scored a second-half goal to break a 1-1 tie and secure a 2-1 win over Rockvale at Siegel Soccer Complex on Tuesday, Aug.

25.

Coach Derek Mason begins his third season with the Blue Raiders, predicted to finish 6 wins, 6 losses overall and 4 wins, 4 losses in CUSA with a possible bowl bid, while the article presents game score forecasts from Sept.

5 to Nov. 28 on ESPN+.