The Supreme Court Monday jumped into the fight over transgender rights, agreeing to hear an appeal from the Biden administration seeking to block state bans on gender-affirming care.

The justices’ action comes as Republican-led states have enacted a variety of restrictions on health care for transgender people, school sports participation, bathroom usage and drag shows. The administration and Democratic-led states have extended protections for transgender people, including a new federal regulation that seeks to protect transgender students.

The case before the high court involves a law in Tennessee that restricts puberty blockers and hormone therapy for transgender minors. The federal appeals court in Cincinnati allowed laws in Tennessee and Kentucky to take effect after they had been blocked by lower courts. (The high court did not act on a separate appeal from Kentucky.)

Arguments will take place in the fall.

UT board reappoints Boyd as president

The University of Tennessee Board of Trustees has voted to extend the employment of UT System President Randy Boyd through the fiscal year ending on June 30, 2030.

Since his appointment in 2018, Boyd has spearheaded numerous initiatives designed to move the UT System forward. Since fall 2019, total enrollment has increased 13.8%, while six-year and four-year graduation rates have increased 3.8% and 3.0%, respectively. Bachelor’s degrees awarded grew 9.3%, while graduate and professional degrees increased 17.1%.

Boyd also established UT Promise, an undergraduate scholarship program guaranteeing free tuition and mandatory fees for qualifying Tennessee residents attending UT’s campuses in Knoxville, Chattanooga, Pulaski, Martin and Memphis. Additionally, he led the effort to acquire UT Southern, the fourth undergraduate campus in the UT System, which represents the only public four-year institution of higher education between Chattanooga and Memphis.

As with the first five years of Boyd’s service to UT, he has requested no salary for the remainder of his employment. The University will continue to provide Boyd with a stipend in the amount of $10,000 per year to cover costs related to enrollment in the state group health insurance plan during the remainder of his term of service.

State unemployment dips to record-low 3%

Tennessee marked a milestone in May when the statewide unemployment rate dropped to a historic low level and set a record, according to the Department of Labor and Workforce Development.

The rate decreased by 0.1% between April and May to 3% and made history by besting any jobless number since the federal government began tracking the statistic in 1976.

The state’s unemployment rate dipped to the previous all-time low of 3.1% in April 2024 after first reaching that record level one year earlier. The rate held steady at 3.1% for three consecutive months in 2023.

The record-setting low unemployment was coupled with continued job growth across the state.

Tennessee employers created 3,300 new nonfarm jobs between April and May. The accommodation and food services sector was responsible for most of those new jobs. The professional, scientific, and technical services sector was the next top job creator in May, followed by the health care and social assistance sector.

In a year-to-year comparison, employers added 8,000 nonfarm positions to their payrolls during the last 12 months. The education and health services sector saw the biggest increase during the year, followed by the leisure and hospitality sector and then the trade, transportation and utilities sector.

Across the United States, the seasonally adjusted jobless number inched up by 0.1% from 3.9% in April to 4% in May.

Zillow: Median income buyers need $127K down

To comfortably afford a typical U.S. home, a homebuyer making the median income needs to put down nearly $127,750, or 35.4%, a new Zillow analysis shows. Five years ago, when mortgage rates were hovering just above 4% and the typical home was worth about 50% less, that home would have been affordable with no money down.

That $127,750 down payment is what a household making the median income would need to put down when purchasing a typical U.S. home – valued at about $360,000 – so that the monthly mortgage payments take up no more than 30% of that household’s monthly income.

The enormous gap between the down payment needed now and five years ago underscores how the pandemic fueled a scorching-hot housing market, and why the rise in mortgage rates in the time since has cooled the market. Stubbornly high mortgage rates have pushed both buyers and sellers to the sidelines. With so few homes for sale, competition is stiff among the remaining buyers.

To save up $127,750, it would take a household making the median income about 12 years (assuming its members save 10% of their income each month with a 4% annual return). It’s no wonder then that 43% of last year’s buyers used a gift from family or friends for at least part of their down payment, the highest share since at least 2018.

There are still affordable pockets of the U.S. In 10 major metropolitan areas, the typical home is affordable to a median-income household with less than 20% down. Pittsburgh boasts the most affordable housing market. A median-income household there could afford the monthly payments on a typical home even with no money down.

The numbers are less favorable in Nashville, where the typical home value is $446,180 according to Zillow’s chart, setting the down payment needed at $203,325, or 45.6% of the home’s value.

Realty Trust partners with Maury Regional

Maury Regional Health has selected Realty Trust Group, a full-service health care real estate advisory and services firm, to serve as a strategic partner in managing their real estate portfolio.

“In addition to property management, transaction and compliance services, RTG will work with executive leadership in an advisory role to identify solutions and actionable strategies as it relates to utilizing real estate to meet the strategic, operational and financial goals of the organization,” says Forrest Gardner, vice president with RTG.

Maury Regional Health, a not-for-profit regional health system serving southern Middle Tennessee is the largest health care provider between Nashville, Tennessee and Huntsville, Alabama. With approximately 3,000 dedicated employees, the organization is committed to delivering innovative care that seamlessly merges convenient, affordable access with skill and compassion.

RTG manages more than 20 million square feet of health care real estate and has completed engagements in more than 35 states.

Newport Healthcare, Trevor Project partner

Newport Healthcare, a provider of evidence-based behavioral health treatment for youth, young adults and families, has partnered once again with The Trevor Project, the world’s largest suicide prevention and crisis intervention organization for LGBTQ young people.

This marks the fourth year of the collaboration, celebrated annually during Pride Month, reaffirming Newport Healthcare’s commitment to providing inclusive care and allyship for LGBTQ youth.

The Trevor Project’s 2024 U.S. National Survey on the Mental Health of LGBTQ+ Young People shows that LGBTQ+ young people have disproportionately higher rates of suicide and that far too many struggle to access the mental health care they need.

In the last year alone, The Trevor Project has received over 250,000 crisis contacts from LGBTQ youth, underscoring the urgent need for accessible mental health support and effective suicide prevention strategies. Newport Healthcare is one of The Trevor Project’s treatment resources for young people calling the crisis line.

Newport Healthcare and The Trevor Project previously partnered to provide ally training to Newport’s 3,500+ employees, helping to ensure inclusive treatment experiences. This year, the two organizations are joining forces for a free continuing education (CE) webinar for mental health professionals on the topic of suicide prevention in transgender and nonbinary youth. The session helps equip mental health professionals with the knowledge and tools necessary to support transgender and nonbinary youth, who are among the most vulnerable within the LGBTQ community.

Fifth Third nabs honors for workplace wellness

Fifth Third Bank has been named one of the Nation’s Best and Brightest in Wellness by the National Association for Business Resources (NABR). The companies who made this list prioritize employee health, well-being and workplace culture.

“We are committed to holistically supporting employees’ overall well-being, including their health and financial wellness, based on their input,” says Nancy Pinckney, chief human resources officer. “We strive to offer innovative programs that make a real difference in their lives.”

In response to employees’ feedback, the bank recently enhanced its adoption reimbursement benefit, bereavement leave and employee stock purchase plan. It also made updates to its wellness and employee assistance programs.

Nissan hauls in second Great Place to Work nod

A testament to the company’s work to foster a supportive and inspiring environment for all employees, Nissan has been certified as a Great Place to Work in the U.S. for the second consecutive year.

An impressive 80% of employees surveyed said Nissan is a great place to work, eclipsing the 57% average rating reported among typical U.S.-based companies surveyed by Great Place to Work.

“Our work building our company culture is never done, but it is something that we intentionally work on every single day,” says Jérémie Papin, chairperson, Nissan Americas. “We are continually listening to employees and taking actions to ensure Nissan is a place everyone feels proud to work for. These efforts are validated by the Great Place to Work certification.”

Certification as a Great Place to Work is based on surveys of employees that measure workplace satisfaction across four qualities, including whether employees trust the people they work for, take genuine pride in their work, enjoy collaborating with colleagues and experience a consistent workplace atmosphere.

Employees praised Nissan’s efforts to give back to the community and work-life balance, and expressed their pride in the business. Highlights include 88% of Nissan employees saying they, “feel good about the ways we contribute to the community,” while 86% said they are, “proud to tell others I work here,” and 85% said, “when I look at what we accomplish, I feel a sense of pride.”