Saturday, September 12, 2026

Good Morning! On this day in 2003, legendary country music icon Johnny Cash passed away in Nashville at the age of 71.

Just days after marking the one-year anniversary of the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, we reflect on the current state of free speech on college campuses across America. See where four Tennessee colleges line up in a new 2027 College Free Speech report in today’s Top Stories.

Balance, strength, and the ability to get up off the floor fade quickly with age, and most people don’t notice until something as simple as standing up from a chair gets hard. Physical therapists say it doesn’t have to go that way. When asked which exercises they actually recommend to patients, the same six simple moves came up again and again. One of them you can do while waiting for your morning coffee. Join Christopher on The Flyover Podcast to find out which everyday movements could keep you strong, steady, and independent for years to come. Tune in here!

Today’s sponsor, Doroni, is building the H1-X personal flying vehicle as interest in eVTOL technology grows across both the defense sector and the broader aviation market.

Unanimous Vote in Favor of Renaming BNA

The Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority voted 6-0 Friday to begin renaming Nashville International Airport in honor of Dolly Parton, who died Aug. 25. Officials said the final name has not been determined.

The leading proposal is Dolly Parton International Airport. The BNA airport code would remain, preserving its link to Col. Harry S. Berry, who helped establish the airport in 1939.

The board voted to modify a policy that generally bars naming airport properties for people deceased less than two years. FAA paperwork and new signage are expected to take six months to a year, at an estimated $8 million to $10 million.

Gov. Bill Lee, Mayor Freddie O’Connell, and the Metro Council have backed the effort, and a petition supporting the change has surpassed 175,000 signatures.

Blackburn Declines To Debate Green

Republican U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn said Thursday she will not debate Democrat nominee Jerri Green in Tennessee’s governor’s race, rejecting Green’s request for four debates across the state.

Speaking to reporters at a Chattanooga campaign event for state Sen. Bo Watson, Blackburn called Green a socialist and described the race as a “contrast campaign”—one centered on competing visions for the state’s future. “I am not going to give air to a socialist candidate who is running on trying to destroy the agenda of Tennessee, destroy the United States,” Blackburn said.

Green’s letter proposed debates Sept. 30 in Brentwood, Oct. 3 in Nashville, Oct. 9 in Memphis, and Oct. 16 in Knoxville, saying she would appear “with or without” Blackburn.

Green’s campaign has indicated she plans to continue appearing at town halls and public events across Tennessee, while Blackburn’s campaign continues emphasizing its message to voters through campaign stops and other appearances.

Vanderbilt Ranks 5th Nationally for Free Speech

Vanderbilt University ranked fifth among 261 U.S. campuses in the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression’s 2027 College Free Speech Rankings, earning a C+ grade, the highest of four Tennessee schools surveyed.

The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, known as FIRE, credited Vanderbilt’s “green light” policy rating and a top-25 score for administrative support, meaning that students trust administrators to defend free speech. The university’s faculty senate has adopted the Chicago Statement on free expression.

Middle Tennessee State University ranked 13th with a C grade and the University of Tennessee at Knoxville 47th with a D+ grade. The University of Memphis ranked 168th, receiving an F and a “yellow light” rating.

Tennessee institutions collectively received a D+, unchanged from last year. Nationally, the University of Chicago ranked first and New York University last in the survey of roughly 63,000 college students. You can see the full list of FIRE’s 2027 rankings here.

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➤ Robertson County: Multiple fire departments responded Friday morning to a structure fire in the 7900 block of Bethlehem Road, where the building was engulfed in flames and explosions were reported. (More)

➤ Knoxville: Former Knox County Sheriff Tom Spangler died Thursday after a years-long battle with pancreatic cancer he disclosed in 2024. He led the sheriff’s office from Sept. 2018 through Sept. 2026. (More)

➤ Jackson: A raccoon knocked out power to more than 10,700 customers around 8:30 p.m. Thursday night, causing a widespread outage. Crews have since restored electricity to affected areas. (More)

➤ Clarksville: Northeast Middle School went into lockdown Friday morning after a fight involving multiple students prompted a large police response. The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office confirmed no shooting occurred at the school, while police and Clarksville-Montgomery County Schools continue investigating. (More)

➤ Kingsport: The fire department has completed a portable live-fire training structure at its training facility, allowing firefighters of all experience levels to practice a range of live-fire scenarios. (Watch Report)

➤ Columbia: Police searched two massage parlors this week and seized $104,000 as part of a broader investigation into suspected human trafficking and prostitution at the businesses. (More)

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➤ No. 18 Tennessee travels to Atlanta to face Georgia Tech tonight, while Vanderbilt hosts Delaware in Nashville and Memphis visits Boise State. (See Schedule)

➤ The Tennessee Titans postponed former running back Chris Johnson’s Ring of Honor induction Friday, saying Johnson, who has ALS, and his family cannot travel to Nashville for Sunday’s opener. (More)

➤ Tennessee linebacker Arion Carter pledged to donate $427 to cancer research for every tackle this season, matching the agent reimbursement that drew a one-game NCAA suspension. (More)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: US Open | MLB | NCAAF | Soccer

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➤ The Tennessee Valley Fair at Knoxville’s Chilhowee Park opened yesterday bringing concerts, rides, fair food, and agricultural exhibits this weekend through Sept. 20. Tickets range from $7 to $46. (Watch Report)

➤ A 93-year-old Army veteran in hospice care flew in a stunt plane over Morristown, fulfilling a lifelong dream—his hospice team arranged the special outing to help him savor his final days. (Watch Video)

➤ Candy’s Creek Cherokee Elementary School in Cleveland raised more than $11,000 in under a week to buy longtime employee Ron Harrison a truck for commuting and art shows. (See Details)

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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, straight from the heart of the country.

➤ Physical therapists say six simple moves may protect the strength and balance that age quietly erodes. (See Exercises)

➤ One surrogate’s refusal to end a pregnancy has escalated into a custody fight now before the U.S. Supreme Court. (Hear Story)

➤ Popular weight loss drugs have been linked to a rare brain disorder that can turn deadly without quick treatment. (Podcast Available)

The Tennessee Valley Fair has celebrated East Tennessee’s heritage, arts, and agriculture for over 100 years!

Have you ever attended the Tennessee Valley Fair?

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Which of the CMA Awards nominees do you think deserves to win Entertainer of the Year?

Don’t know/don’t care: 52%
Ella Langley: 18%
Lainey Wilson: 10%
Chris Stapleton: 8%
Luke Combs: 7%
Cody Johnson: 5%

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Saturday, September 12, 2026

Saturday, September 12, 2026

Unanimous Vote in Favor of Renaming BNA

Blackburn Declines To Debate Green

Vanderbilt Ranks 5th Nationally for Free Speech

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