Thursday, June 25, 2026

Good Morning! On this day in 1987, President Ronald Reagan declared June 25 National Catfish Day, honoring the Southern aquaculture industry that has long been a staple of Tennessee’s food culture.

Yale just tracked over 11,000 seniors for more than a decade, and what they found breaks every rule you’ve been told about getting older. Nearly half of them didn’t decline. They got BETTER. Cognitively. Physically. And the researchers found the one hidden factor driving it… It’s not genetics. Ayla breaks down what it is, and the four things you can start doing today to be in that improving half. Coming up on The Flyover Podcast. Tune in here!

Your home address, phone number, and even family connections may be easier to find online than you think. Later today, watch for a message from our partner, Incogni, on how to take that information back.

Today is the day. Over the past week, we’ve shared details about the Freedom Summit. If you’ve been meaning to sign up, this is your last chance before the event begins later today. Registration is FREE, and you can claim your spot here.

Today’s sponsor, Sonic Glow Tooth Brush, uses powerful sonic vibrations and built-in blue light technology to help remove plaque, protect sensitive gums, and promote a cleaner, brighter, healthier smile in just seconds a day.

1.6M Tennesseans Hitting the Road for July 4th

More than 1.6 million Tennesseans are expected to travel at least 50 miles from home during the July 4th holiday period, setting a new state record.

AAA projections also show that 1.4 million Tennessee travelers will be driving to their destinations for the holiday weekend.

Nationally, 72.2 million Americans are projected to travel over the holiday, another record, though growth has slowed to just 0.5% as rising prices lead many families to take shorter trips, choose closer destinations, and cut back on extras.

Tennessee drivers should plan for a state average of around $3.58 per gallon, up from last year’s $2.75. Domestic flights are averaging about $830 per ticket, roughly 5% more expensive than last Independence Day.

Bluebird Cafe to Open Stadium Location

For the first time in its history, Nashville’s famed Bluebird Cafe is opening a satellite location, and it’s going inside the new Nissan Stadium.

The space, called Bluebird East, will be tucked directly behind the stadium’s in-bowl stage in the east end zone when the venue opens in spring 2027.

The partnership is centered around the songwriter community Nashville is known for, with plans to bring in writers behind major stadium acts, give fans a closer look at the people behind the music, and host small performances and music education programs throughout the year.

Bluebird President Erika Wollam Nichols said she believes the Titans understand the importance of protecting the listening room’s identity and the songwriting culture it represents.

TVA Opens Historic Dams for America’s 250th

In honor of the nation’s 250th birthday, the Tennessee Valley Authority is opening four of its historic dams to free public tours: Raccoon Mountain on July 8, Kentucky Dam on July 16, Fontana Dam on July 27, and Norris Dam on July 29.

Registration is required, and spots inside the dams will be awarded by random selection, but TVA says even those not chosen can pick up America 250-themed giveaways at staffed visitor centers beginning July 8. See details here.

TVA called the tours a chance to spotlight the dams’ role in electrifying rural America, fueling wartime production, and other engineering achievements that have defined the Tennessee Valley for nearly a century.

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➤ Middle Tennessee: Dangerous heat is heading to the region this weekend, with highs in the mid- to upper 90s and heat index values expected to reach 100 to 105 degrees. (More)

➤ Perry County: A 13-year-old girl allegedly sliced a man with a samurai sword to defend her mother from an attack. The sheriff said she “may have been acting in defense of her mother” and called her a potential hero. (More)

➤ Memphis: The mayor says xAI has committed to resuming construction on its wastewater treatment facility by the beginning of 2027. Elon Musk says he thinks it could restart even sooner, by late 2026. (More)

➤ Cookeville: Tennessee Tech University launched its first fully online undergraduate agribusiness degree. The program prepares students for careers in farm supply businesses, agricultural lending, and family farming. (See Details)

➤ Cornersville: Dolly Parton’s Tennessean Travel Stop opened yesterday, featuring a general store, southern restaurant, and live music space. (See Photos)

➤ Nashville: Thomas Rhett will become the 113th star on the Music City Walk of Fame when he’s inducted in a public ceremony on July 8. The country star has racked up 25 No. 1 songs and 16 billion streams. (More)

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➤ The Nashville Predators, Tennessee Titans, and Nashville SC are partnering on a 233-acre youth sports complex in Franklin called The Banks at Brownland, anchored by a 100,000-square-foot ice facility that the Predators would operate. Local officials are scheduled to take up the proposal at a June 29 meeting. (More)

➤ Tennessee baseball finished the season unranked in the USA TODAY Coaches Poll for the first time since 2019. The ranking comes after the Vols went 0-2 at the NCAA regional, snapping a five-year super regional streak. (More)

➤ The murder trial of former Tennessee Titans scout Blaise Taylor began this week in a Nashville courtroom. Taylor, 30, is charged with poisoning his pregnant girlfriend in February 2023. (More)

➤ Yesterday’s results: World Cup | MLB | WNBA

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➤ Nashville Shores, Middle Tennessee’s largest waterpark along Percy Priest Lake, has been sold to out-of-state company EPR Properties for nearly $12.1 million, including all pools, slides, and rides. (More)

➤ Chattanooga’s NOVONIX must repay a $3 million economic development grant after the company created only 85 of 290 promised jobs, falling well below the 50% threshold. (More)

➤ Nearly 1,000 Tennessee workers face layoffs or closures in the coming months. The biggest cuts will come from Pilgrim’s Pride in Chattanooga, JBS USA in Memphis, and WK Kellogg in Memphis. (More)

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➤ Oak Ridge National Laboratory 3D-printed a stainless steel Tennessee model for the America250 time capsule, which won’t be opened until the nation’s 500th birthday in 2276. (See Model)

➤ Jay Leno, comedian and late-night TV host, is coming to Knoxville’s Tennessee Theatre on Nov. 19. Tickets go on sale tomorrow at 10 a.m. (More)

➤ The Nashville Zoo introduced five rock hyraxes to its newly opened Leopard Forest this week. The small, vocal African mammals are, surprisingly, among the closest living relatives to elephants. (More)

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The following stories are featured exclusively on The Flyover Podcast—a daily show that gives you the most important headlines in under 15 minutes. Clicking the links will take you directly to these stories:

➤ A Yale study tracked 11,000 seniors for over a decade and found nearly half didn’t decline with age; they improved, and one hidden factor explains why. (Hear What)

➤ The military is reinstating flu shots for recruits after an outbreak swept a Texas training base. (Listen Now)

➤ The average couple drops over $6,000 on the honeymoon now, and Gen Z would rather splurge there than on the wedding. (Listen More)