The Murfreesboro Pulse

01/13/2026

Buc-ee’s Now Accepting Applications for Location 🦫

Many have asked, “How do I apply for a job at Buc-ee’s?”

Applications are now being accepted to fill several management positions.

Here You Go! 👇🏻

https://buc-ees.com/careers/

01/13/2026

Police responded to an alleged gun threat today outside of Saint Rose of Lima Catholic School.

01/13/2026

In February 2026, Mark Odom is scheduled to reappear in general sessions court in Henry County, , charged with the murder of Kristiana Shook-Livingston, who had been residing in .

Despite the mysteries surrounding the killing of this young woman, there has been little public outcry or media coverage regarding it.

One can’t help but wonder, if Kristiana wasn’t a homeless woman, would there be more anger and outcry regarding her senseless slaying and more calls to bring her perpetrator(s) to justice?

Though much mystery shrouds her final days on this earth, much of her life was not mysterious. The unanswered questions surrounding her final days stand in contrast to her recent life in a tent behind Petsense in Murfreesboro; here, maintaining her privacy must be weighed with the sharing of her story, lest she vanish unremembered and forgotten, as many homeless women do.

Kristiana Renae Shook-Livingston was born in Oklahoma on Aug. 12, 1994. She was a few months away from her 31st birthday when she was slain. According to childhood best friend, Tyesha Wilson, Kristiana seemed like your average girl next door growing up. She was into drawing and making art, sports, painting her nails and talking on the phone. She loved wearing bright colors and dreamed of one day being a teacher. She loved to laugh and was described by those closest to her as joyous, bubbly, positive, encouraging and never having a bad thing to say about anyone.

By all accounts she was selfless and a giver.

“She was the kind of person who would give you the shirt off her back,” said her five-years-younger brother Marc, reflecting on when Kristiana had given him the best gift he ever received as a kid, a PlayStation she must have saved for weeks to buy.

But outward appearances aside, Kristiana was not your typical girl next door. After her parents’ divorce in her early years, she lived briefly with her father and sister. Sadly, it was the sisters who discovered the lifeless body of their father when they tried to wake him up from a nap. After the death of their father, followed by a brief time of custody with their mother, Kristiana and her sister were enrolled in the foster care system in Arkansas.

Eventually they were adopted out to Toya and Max Livingston, and joined by an adopted younger brother, Marc. After graduating from high school, Kristiana left the nest to seek her destiny. She eventually moved to Murfreesboro and worked at Dunkin Donuts, Bargain Hunt and Dollar General, and was known and loved by many in the community.

More 👇🏻

https://boropulse.com/2025/11/killed-at-30-murfreesboros-kristiana-shook-livingston-discovered-dead-in-henry-county/

01/13/2026

👀❄️ A Look Back: was covered in white on Jan. 13, 2025.

Beautiful view of a snowy Stones River National Battlefield by Jessica Rasmussen Photography 📷❤️

01/12/2026

The construction phase of Murfreesboro’s Town Creek Daylighting Project is now well underway. Passersby will notice major changes to the area alongside Broad Street, with buildings demolished, ground moved, and water now flowing above ground.

With the concrete culverts built in the 1950s being unearthed, reconstruction of the natural waterways continues as we enter 2026.

The project, taking place between South Church Street and Cannonsburgh Village in downtown along the west side of Broad Street, will greatly change the landscape of the area, bringing a park type of feature into the heart of the city.

This work will bring many changes to the area, including new green spaces, walking trails and seating areas. It will also connect several greenways in Murfreesboro together, allowing even greater accessibility to them, linking the nature trails at the Murfree Spring Wetlands to Cannonsburgh Village and, thus, the rest of the Murfreesboro Greenway system.

The $22.5 million project was approved by the Murfreesboro City Council in 2016 and is being directed by SBW Constructors.

Despite the large price tag, the project has potential to have a positive impact on the area, according to many local business and government leaders.

Most of the money came from federal stimulus funds for the stormwater elements of the project.

More 👇🏻

https://boropulse.com/2026/01/town-creek-project-taking-shape-alongside-murfreesboros-broad-street/

01/12/2026

Jan. 15 – The Connection at Champy’s 🤝

Champy's Midtn World Famous Fried Chicken will host the January 2026 installment of The Connection: An Evening of Professional Networking and Business Brainstorming from 5–7 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 15. All Middle Tennessee entrepreneurs and professionals are welcome to attend this casual, , no-obligation networking event, where they can meet other small business owners and tap into one another’s experience and energy. Networking begins at 5 p.m. with introductions at 6 p.m. Champy’s is located at 1290 NW Broad St. in .

More Community Events 👇🏻

https://boropulse.com/2026/01/january-2026-community-events/

01/12/2026

🚨 PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT

This is a reminder that everyone on the road drives a motorized vehicle, and none of us are the main character.

Yes, traffic is worse.
No, it is not new.
Yes, the town grew.
No, the road did not emotionally consent first.

If someone merges poorly, it is not an act of war.
If someone hesitates at a green light, it is not a referendum on your masculinity.
If someone goes the speed limit, they are not “doing it on purpose.”

Recent studies (by standing anywhere on Broad Street) confirm:
- Every driver believes they are the only competent one.
- Every other driver is either malicious, stupid, or both.
- Horns are now used as punctuation, therapy, and confession.

Let us be clear:
Flashing your lights does not make you correct.
Tailgating does not inspire acceleration.
Rolling down your window does not upgrade your argument.

You are not on time because:
1. You left late
2. Everyone else also exists
3. The town itself isn’t what you thought

None of these are crimes.
All should be forgiven.

Please note:
The person you’re furious at may be:
• new here
• old here
• having a worse day than you
• awfully complex with regard to chronological prediction depth
• simply bad at driving, which—tragically—is still legal

Take a breath.
Grip the wheel like a tool, not a weapon.
Arrive five minutes later.
Live longer.

This has been a Murfreesboro PSA.
You will ignore it.
That’s okay.
So will everyone else.

✍️ Courtesy of Tyler Rooks
📷 Richard Green

01/11/2026

🚫 CLOSED: Casa Adobe Express on Warrior Drive in has closed its doors.

Casa Adobe owners are working on opening Che Taqueria at 1813 Memorial Blvd.

More Local Business News 👇🏻

https://boropulse.com/2026/01/murfreesboro-business-buzz-popstroke-in-n-out-burger-ufc-gym-dzone-btq-casa-primos-and-more/

01/11/2026

SN❄️W Wednesday night into Thursday?

It’s definitely going to get cold, with temperatures expected to stay in the 30s on Thursday 🥶

Time to talk about the s-word....There is increasing likelihood in minor accumulations of snow on the Cumberland Plateau Wednesday into Thursday. Though confidence is medium-high on snow occurring, confidence is low on accumulations above an inch. We will continue to monitor the trends in guidance as we get closer!

01/11/2026

Three months after the October 14, 2025 groundbreaking, the new Buc‑ee’s on Joe B. Jackson Parkway is already taking shape in a way that has locals buzzing. What was once a wide stretch of dirt and construction fencing is now a clearly defined work zone, with crews moving quickly to prepare for what will become one of the largest travel centers in the region. The location is expected to span roughly 74,000 to 77,000 square feet, complete with 120 gas pumps, a substantial lineup of EV chargers, and even a walking trail—an unusual but welcome addition for a roadside stop.

Behind the scenes, the city and TDOT have been working just as hard as the construction crews. Major infrastructure improvements—some already completed—are designed to prevent the traffic headaches that have plagued other Buc‑ee’s openings. The realignment of Butler Drive is finished, Elam Road’s relocation is nearly wrapped up, and interchange upgrades at I‑24 are scheduled through 2026. A fully signalized intersection will help meter traffic in and out of the site, a first‑day necessity for a store known to draw thousands.

More 👇🏻

MURFREESBORO, TN (WGNS News) - Three months after the October 14, 2025 groundbreaking, the new Buc‑ee’s on Joe B. Jackson Parkway is already taking shape in a way that has locals buzzing. What was once a wide stretch of dirt and construction fencing is now a clearly defined work zone, with c...

01/10/2026

Visitation for MTSU First Lady Elizabeth McPhee will be held from 3 to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 13 at Belle Aire Baptist Church, located at 1307 N. Rutherford Blvd. in . Her funeral will be held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 14 at the church.

01/10/2026

Although a party of hikers had already explored the Elkmont area—just a piece of the sprawling Great Smoky Mountain National Park, containing numerous hiking trails, historic cabins, campsites and sections of mountain streams—a return trip proved that the vicinity still had much more to discover.

The former site of a logging town, and later a resort destination, the area surrounding the village has miles and miles of trails (foot trails as well as horse trails), the remains of plenty of old homes, bridges and other structures, and lots of preserved nature to see.

The Little River Trail, which originates from a parking area within Elkmont, reaches far into the Smoky Mountains. But those up for a shorter walk can follow the river for a short piece, however long they choose, head back and still get the flavor and experience of the Little River environment as the stream powerfully rushes along.

The trail is covered in gravel and follows nearby river, its waters swirling and crashing into boulders scattered all about.

The ground here contained a surprising amount of snow and ice on a day when the temperature hit 55 degrees in town. Not much sun strikes the river valley, keeping the air very cool down there in that hollow, mostly blocked from the sunlight by the surrounding hills. . . .

Winter makes a great time to visit Elkmont for those wishing to explore mainly in solitude and avoid crowds. The Elkmont Campground, open late March through November, remains the largest and busiest campground in Great Smoky Mountains National Park during camping season.

More 👇🏻

https://boropulse.com/2026/01/rushing-rivers-historic-homes-and-black-bears-exploring-elkmonts-little-river/