Tuesday, April 21, 2026

Good Morning! On this day in 1865, the damaged steamboat Sultana was being patched at Vicksburg before a voyage that would end in the deadliest maritime disaster in U.S. history, killing an estimated 1,100 to 1,800 people on April 27.

Have you spotted any blinged-out vultures lately? Wildlife specialists are asking Tennesseans to report any tagged vultures they see to learn more about their migration patterns. See details below.

A bombshell new study just dropped on some of the biggest news platforms on the planet, and the findings are raising serious questions about what you’re actually being shown, and what’s quietly being hidden from you. We’re talking about the world’s largest news aggregators, and the data is striking. Right? Left? Conservative? Liberal? On today’s episode of The Flyover Podcast, host Ayla Brown breaks down exactly what this report found, which platforms it calls out by name, and what it means for every American who thinks they’re getting the full picture. Plus, where does The Flyover rank? We’ll share that too. And we think you’ll like the answer. Tune in. You’re going to want to hear this one.

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Take The Flyover with you. Busy day? Listen to our daily 15-minute podcast while commuting, cooking, or walking the dog, your Flyover fix, anywhere.

$58B Budget Passes, No Grocery Tax Cut

Tennessee lawmakers approved a $58 billion budget for the 2026–27 fiscal year but left out a proposed cut to the state’s 4% grocery tax, despite earlier support from some Republicans.

Leaders cited slowing revenue growth and a need for fiscal caution, saying tax cuts should be permanent once enacted.

The plan invests heavily in key areas such as education, infrastructure, and public safety, including funding for school vouchers, road projects, and rural healthcare.

Some legislators criticized the omission of grocery tax relief, arguing that everyday residents were overlooked while campaign promises went unmet.

Rain Ahead Offers Some Drought Relief

Middle Tennessee is expected to see multiple rounds of rain later this week, with scattered showers on Friday and stronger storms on Saturday, offering some relief after a dry stretch.

Another, more widespread system is likely early next week, with forecasts pointing to soaking rains that could help ease drought conditions.

Forecasters, however, say it’ll take far more than a few storms to fix the region’s drought problem.

Areas in severe drought need roughly 10-12 inches of rain over several weeks, and about 25 inches over four months, to fully recover, which is far more than what’s currently in the forecast.

List: Quirky Tennessee Town Names

From Yum Yum to Sweet Lips, a new roundup highlights a lineup of Tennessee town names that sound more made up than mapped out.

The Volunteer State is home to places like Nameless, where residents reportedly never settled on a name, and Difficult, which may have been labeled after a rejected post office application.

Other standouts include Nutbush, made famous by Tina Turner, and Finger, the birthplace of a controversial sheriff who inspired the film Walking Tall.

Whether rooted in history, folklore, or a bit of humor, these small communities prove the Volunteer State doesn’t mind keeping things a little quirky.

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➤ Statewide: Wildlife researchers are asking Tennesseans to report sightings of tagged vultures for a study tracking more than 600 birds to better understand migration. (More)

➤ Memphis: Police are searching for nine teens who left a Midtown treatment center without permission in separate incidents in April as families demand answers. (More)

➤ Hickman County: Attorneys say Accurate Energetic Systems rejected a $150 million settlement and offered victims’ families a $50 gift card and T-shirt, calling the response “insulting” as a lawsuit looms. (More)

➤ Nashville: Don Schlitz, the Grammy-winning songwriter behind The Gambler and Forever and Ever, Amen, has died at 73, leaving a legacy of hits that shaped modern country music. (More)

➤ Also Nashville: A Vanderbilt University partnership is helping elementary students learn debate skills like research, public speaking, and respectful listening. (See Video)

➤ Pigeon Forge: Storms uprooted a tree and damaged Dollywood’s eagle aviary. All Wings of America shows are canceled while the birds are relocated for repairs. (More)

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➤ Former Tennessee receiver Chris Brazzell held a youth football camp for 150 kids in Knoxville on Sunday, just days before he’s expected to be drafted. (More)

➤ A swarm of bees in the visitors’ dugout caused a 53-minute delay during the Memphis Redbirds’ baseball game against the Gwinnett Stripers on Sunday, which Memphis ended up winning 6-5. (More)

➤ Tennessee baseball’s Blake Grimmer tied a program record by blasting three home runs against No. 25 Ole Miss this weekend during the Vols 13-5 win. (More)

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➤ Federal officials say Oak Ridge is central to plans to expand nuclear energy and power AI growth, with efforts underway to clean up sites for new reactors and research. (See Details)

➤ Baristas at a Johnson City Starbucks have voted to unionize, becoming the seventh organized store in Tennessee. Workers are pushing for better pay and a contract with the company. (More)

➤ Two Ten Jack, a Japanese restaurant in Chattanooga’s Warehouse Row, announced it is closing after 11 years, citing ongoing struggles from the pandemic and rising costs. (More)

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Many Americans have no idea they could do this!

Because you have homeowners insurance…

You have car insurance, and you may even have cell phone insurance, but do you have insurance on your Retirement Savings?

Many Americans have done nothing to help protect their retirement savings from another economic crisis, but that’s because they have no idea this even exists!

So, you could wait until the worst possibly happens or you could see how this acts like Retirement Insurance. At the very least, you should be educated about your options. But of course, the choice is yours.

➤ Tennessee’s Washington County is joining dozens of other counties by the same name nationwide to create a quilt celebrating America’s 250th anniversary. (See Quilt)

➤ An IAMS Bark Park officially opened at Nashville Yards on Sunday with a ribbon-cutting event, adding a new green space for downtown dog lovers. (See Photos)

➤ Actor Butch Patrick, known for The Munsters, drew hundreds of fans to Elizabethton for a meet-and-greet and film screening, proving the lasting popularity of the classic TV show. (More)

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