Saturday, May 16, 2026

Good Morning! On this day in 1868, the U.S. Senate acquitted President Andrew Johnson—Tennessee’s own—by a single swing vote, making him the first U.S. president to survive an impeachment trial.

Memphis in May is back, and one group has gone all out to honor a beloved late team member in the World Championship BBQ contest. Find their story in Et Cetera below.

These are the three incredible benefits of drinking coffee in the morning that researchers say could have surprising effects on your long-term health. Your daily cup is reportedly doing far more than boosting energy, including helping protect one of your body’s most important organs. Tune in to The Flyover Podcast as Amy Hess breaks down the latest research on coffee’s unexpected health benefits and what you should know before your next sip. Listen here.

Today’s sponsor, Money.com, is helping homeowners unlock record levels of home equity by matching them with HELOC providers that could save thousands in rates and fees in under a minute.

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.

Federal Lawsuit Targets Tennessee Redistricting

The NAACP and League of Women Voters filed a federal lawsuit on May 14 alleging Tennessee’s redrawn congressional map intentionally discriminates against black voters in Memphis and Shelby County.

The suit argues that a three-day special legislative session unlawfully eliminated Congressional District 9—the state’s only black-majority district, anchored in Memphis for more than 50 years. The redrawn map splits Memphis across three congressional districts, the groups allege, with the intent of eliminating black political representation.

The same day, U.S. Chief District Judge William L. Campbell Jr. denied a temporary restraining order sought by Tennessee Democrats and Democratic U.S. House candidates to block the new lines. The judge also canceled a hearing scheduled for May 20.

Multiple federal suits challenging the map are now pending in court, with candidate filing deadlines approaching and more legal battles expected ahead of the 2026 midterms.

Only Democrat in Congress Retires After Redistricting

Rep. Steve Cohen announced Friday that he is dropping his reelection bid and retiring from Congress after nearly two decades representing Memphis—forced out by the Republican-controlled legislature’s redrawing of his district into three GOP-leaning seats.

“I don’t want to quit. I’m not a quitter,” Cohen told reporters. “But these districts were drawn to beat me.”

Cohen, 76, has held Tennessee’s only majority-black congressional district since 2007 and is the first Jewish person ever elected to represent the state in Congress.

His retirement comes in the immediate aftermath of the Supreme Court’s Louisiana v. Callais ruling, which curtailed Voting Rights Act protections and opened the door for Southern states to eliminate majority-minority districts.

Titans Open 2026 vs. Jets, Eagles

The Titans unveiled their 2026 schedule earlier this week, opening the season at home on September 13 against the New York Jets.

Week 2 brings another home date—September 20 against the Philadelphia Eagles, fresh off their Super Bowl LIX run. Back-to-back home openers give Nashville’s team a rare chance to build early momentum before the road schedule kicks in.

New Titans head coach Robert Saleh spent four seasons running the New York sideline before the Jets parted ways with him five games into 2024. Tennessee is coming off a 3-14 campaign and enters 2026 deep in rebuild mode.

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Homeowners Are Quietly Tapping Record Equity

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➤ Statewide: FEMA approved $109 million for Tennessee as part of a $5.4 billion federal distribution reimbursing states for COVID-19 emergency response costs. The funds will repay expenses Tennessee incurred during the pandemic. (More)

➤ Knoxville: Multiple Knox County Sheriff’s Office leaders—current and former—were charged this week in what local outlets are calling a significant corruption investigation. (More)

➤ Memphis: The ACLU filed a federal lawsuit alleging Memphis Safe Task Force agents engaged in a “startling pattern” of intimidation against bystanders who filmed them. A former prosecutor raised concerns about the task force’s fatal Burger King shooting. (More)

➤ Nashville: A father sued Metro Nashville Public Schools after a teacher allegedly taped his 7-year-old son to a desk. The boy was only freed when another teacher noticed him, according to the lawsuit. (More)

➤ Statewide: Tennessee launched the Veterans Connect Portal, a new website helping service members, veterans, and their families find state and federal support services in one place. (More)

➤ The Lady Vols softball team opened NCAA regional play on Friday in Knoxville, hosting Virginia, Indiana, and Northern Kentucky at Sherri Parker Lee Stadium. Belmont also entered regional play yesterday in Tuscaloosa, Ala. (More)

➤ Tennessee men’s basketball added VCU transfer center Christian Fermin as the final addition to its offseason portal class. The 6-foot-10 big man averaged 4.6 points and 1.4 blocks per game as a junior. (More)

➤ Grizzlies fans gathered outside FedExForum in Memphis earlier this week, leaving flowers in tribute to forward Brandon Clarke, who died at 29 on May 11. (More)

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If you’re sitting on untapped home equity, Money.com says you may be able to turn it into cash for renovations, debt consolidation, or major expenses without touching your savings.

Their latest guide compares top home equity loan and HELOC lenders, breaks down current rates, and explains how homeowners can access funds with predictable monthly payments.

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➤ Memphis: The Memphis in May World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest is taking place at Liberty Park, with the Three Taxi Guys team rolling out a new open-fire cooker honoring late teammate Rick Hewitt. (More)

➤ Dickson: Grammy-winning country star Lainey Wilson married former NFL quarterback Devlin “Duck” Hodges in a waterfall ceremony inside historic Ruskin Cave last weekend, with Vogue dropping the photos on Instagram this week. (More)

➤ Warren County: Cardwell Mountain State Archaeological Park has been designated Tennessee’s 64th state park, protecting more than 5,000 years of history atop one of the nation’s largest cave systems. (More)

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