Astronaut Enters Governor Race

Barry “Butch” Wilmore, a Mt. Juliet native and veteran NASA astronaut, has officially joined the growing list of candidates for Tennessee governor, according to the Secretary of State’s office.

Wilmore, who returned to Earth last March after an extended nine-month space mission, is now in the mix alongside U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn and U.S. Rep. John Rose to replace term-limited Gov. Bill Lee.

The qualifying deadline is noon on March 10, giving campaigns little remaining time to lock in. 

Wilmore, a University of Tennessee and Tennessee Tech graduate, brings military and space credentials to what’s shaping up to be a crowded 2026 Republican primary.

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Viral Kidney Recipient Seeks Donor

Steve Winfree, the Middle Tennessee man whose wife revealed she was his kidney match with a baseball card in a 2017 viral video, is back on the transplant list after his donated kidney failed.

Doctors at Vanderbilt University Medical Center recently told Winfree the organ is no longer functioning, just as the couple prepares to welcome their second child in August.

Winfree, who has Type O blood, is seeking a living donor and says anyone with O positive or O negative blood could be a potential match. Winfree says he’s praying for a “second miracle” and is urging potential donors to get tested. 

The couple’s story previously led to a self-published book and an upcoming film adaptation.

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➤ Statewide: The Tennessee Valley Authority’s board chairman has resigned before his term was set to expire in 2027. The board continues operating with a quorum. (More)

➤ Also Statewide: Gov. Bill Lee visited schools to celebrate Read Across America Week and proclaimed March as Literacy Month, touting statewide reading gains. (More)

➤ Nashville: The Main Library is tentatively set to reopen March 30, pending final inspections, following months of restoration work after a major parking garage fire. (More)

➤ Franklin: A massive pollen bomb was caught on video after unseasonably warm, breezy weather triggered an early burst of tree pollen. (See Video)

➤ Kingsport: Bays Mountain Park & Planetarium will feature a 45-minute immersive Dark Side of the Moon show this spring, pairing Pink Floyd’s iconic album with space-themed visuals. (More)

➤ Johnson City: The Reese Museum is inviting the public to share photos, uniforms, and stories about Appalachian Girl Scouts to help shape its upcoming 2027 exhibit, Mountain Magic. (More)

➤ Women’s Basketball AP Poll: Vanderbilt remained locked into the No. 5 spot this week, while Tennessee was ranked outside of the Top 25 yet again. (See Full Poll)

➤ Tennessee football coach Josh Heupel is in favor of expanding the College Football Playoff field from 12 teams to 24: “The way college football is constantly changing, that probably makes the most sense.” (More)

➤ The city of Memphis will host a WTA women’s tennis tournament, the Memphis Classic, at the Leftwich Tennis Center from late July through early August. It’s a multi-year deal, meaning the partnership will likely extend past 2026. (More)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: NBA | NHL | NCAAM | NCAAW | NCAAB | NCAASB | Soccer

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➤ Gas prices in Tennessee have ticked up in recent weeks, with analysts citing seasonal trends and rising oil prices amid escalating U.S.–Iran tensions. (More)

➤ Clarion Partners’ CPREX fund has acquired the 126-unit Vitality Living Franklin senior housing community, expanding its healthcare real estate holdings in a high-growth market. (More)

➤ Waffle Mania is preparing to open a quick-service restaurant in Millington, with permits under review and limited details available beyond a likely waffle-focused menu. (More)

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➤ Zoo Knoxville will host its inaugural Red Panda Run 5K on May 30, inviting runners to race through the zoo and Chilhowee Park for a three-mile course featuring animal views. (See Details)

➤ A total lunar eclipse turned the moon a deep red over Middle Tennessee early yesterday morning. Local viewers captured photos as the blood moon reached peak totality around 5 am. (See Eclipse)

➤ Scrappy, a three-year-old German Shepherd mix who arrived at a Hardin County shelter as a puppy, has finally been adopted after spending 803 days without a home. (More)

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