Monday, September 28, 2026

Good Morning! On this day in 2024, Winfield Dunn, Tennessee’s 43rd governor, died at 97. A Memphis dentist who’d never held office, he won in 1970 to become the state’s first Republican governor in 50 years.

A 16-year-old superfan built a LEGO replica of Dolly Parton’s childhood home as a tribute to the late country queen, and she’s hoping it becomes an official set. If you could turn any famous place into a LEGO kit, what would you build?

Some of the smartest financial decisions you’ll make as you near retirement are on things that save you money, time, or trouble down the road. The catch is that the window to buy them can close before you realize it was open. Why do so few retirees claim Social Security at the right time? What $150 scan can catch a silent problem before it lands you in the hospital? In the latest episode of Flyover Focus, we count down 10 purchases that are worth every penny, starting with the easy wins and ending with the ones you can’t undo if you wait. (Tune in here)

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Governor Candidate’s Business Vandalized

Johnson City police are investigating after a death threat was spray-painted on a business owned by independent gubernatorial candidate David Hatley.

The graffiti read “Drop Out or Die” and included a circled “A,” a symbol associated with anarchism, police and Hatley’s campaign said.

Hatley, who is running against Republican Marsha Blackburn and Democrat Jerri Green in the Nov. 3 election, condemned political violence and thanked law enforcement.

He said he would not be intimidated into leaving the race, calling for disagreements to be settled through debate rather than terror. The vandalism adds to an increasingly contentious governor’s race that has already seen candidates publicly urging one another to drop out.

Court Says Tennessee Can Regulate Kalshi

A federal appeals court ruled that Tennessee and Ohio can apply their gambling laws to Kalshi’s sports prediction-market contracts.

The Sixth Circuit unanimously rejected Kalshi’s argument that its event contracts are federally regulated “swaps” beyond the reach of state law.

The decision vacated an injunction Kalshi had won against Tennessee and deepens a split among federal courts over who regulates the fast-growing platforms.

Kalshi said it doesn’t expect the ruling to survive further review, arguing a state-by-state patchwork doesn’t work. The dispute appears increasingly likely to head to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Eagle Saved from Euthanasia Finds New Home

Radnor Lake State Park in Nashville is preparing to welcome Phoenix, a rescued bald eagle that federal officials had once ordered euthanized.

The five-year-old female suffered a broken wing and couldn’t fly well enough to return to the wild, prompting a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service directive to put her down.

Athens Mayor Larry Eaton, a wildlife rescuer who helped save her, fought the order until the agency reversed course in August.

Volunteers have spent months repairing an ice-damaged aviary to ready her new enclosure. Phoenix, expected by year’s end, will share a home with another eagle and serve as a park ambassador teaching visitors about the species.

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➤ Statewide: Advocates and families gathered in Nashville to push for reform of the Department of Children’s Services, citing allegations of systemic problems. (More)

➤ Knoxville: The White House barred CNN from the TV press pool aboard Air Force One for President Trump’s trip to Saturday’s Tennessee-Texas game. No network replaced it, leaving no pool video of the visit. (More)

➤ Murray County: A pilot was found dead after a small plane crashed in a field near Dalton Municipal Airport. The body was discovered by a man bush-hogging the field. (More)

➤ Nashville: A local student was expelled after reporting a threat note at school. Parents and teachers are pressing Metro schools over how the case was handled. (More)

➤ Johnson County: The county will implement ICE’s 287(g) program, letting local law enforcement collaborate with federal immigration authorities, though officials say the area sees few immigration-related issues. (More)

➤ Monterey: Local police and multiple agencies rescued two people at Bee Rock on Saturday. Both have now been confirmed safe. (More)

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➤ The Tennessee Titans’ offense was anemic once again yesterday, scoring just one touchdown in a 12-7 loss to the New York Giants. (More)

➤ Tennessee football linebackers coach William Inge, who was recently hospitalized due to an illness, is “headed in the right direction,” according to Vols linebacker Arion Carter. (More)

➤ The Nashville Predators have trimmed their roster down to 26 players ahead of the start of the 2026-2027 NHL season this week. (More)

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➤ Some things are worth paying more for as you get older, because waiting on them can cost you far more later. (Tune in here)

In the latest episode of Flyover Focus, we count down 10 things actually worth spending more money on as you near retirement. We get into the Social Security decision most retirees get wrong, the box of memories in your basement that may be running out of time, and the purchases that buy you something more important than money. Plus, the number-one item on the list becomes irreversible if you wait too long. (Watch Now)

In case you missed it, last week on Flyover Focus, we broke down what drives your cost of living, so tune in here.

➤ Tennessee-based CoreCivic named Patrick Swindle its new president and CEO after the previous leader stepped down for health reasons. (More)

➤ ArtiCast Jackson, a subsidiary of Michigan’s ArtiFlex, will open a high-pressure die-casting plant in Jackson, investing $10.3 million and creating 100 jobs. (More)

➤ BRBRShop, a new Bristol barbershop, celebrated its grand opening Saturday with free haircuts, food, and a car meet-up. (More)

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➤ The University of Tennessee unveiled bronze statues of coaching legends Neyland, Dickey, and Fulmer at Neyland Stadium’s new “Champions Corner,” honoring six national titles across nearly a century. (See Photos)

➤ A 16-year-old designed a LEGO tribute to Dolly Parton’s childhood home, hoping fans will help it become a real set through LEGO’s Ideas program. (See Set)

➤ Nashville’s KIDSVILLE Family Festival took over Centennial Park with a day of family-friendly activities and entertainment. (See Photos)

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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.

➤ Ukraine airdropped kamikaze ground robots behind Russian lines and says they took out 3,000 troops. The general in charge calls it a world first. (Hear Details)

➤ A sweet tooth in the first two years of life may follow you into adulthood in a way researchers didn’t expect. (Listen Now)

➤ Alina Habba, President Trump’s former lawyer, married a 29-year-old Turkish billionaire at the Waldorf Astoria. (Hear More)