Top Stories

Article Icon 1Pike 911 Calls Reveal Response Delays

Newly released 911 recordings show emergency help for Christa Pike was delayed by confusion after her failed execution, with dispatchers at one point told the call for help was false.

The first call came at 8:40 p.m. Sept. 30, but the caller couldn’t provide a verification code, and a dispatcher told responders at 9:03 p.m. that no medical help was needed at Riverbend.

Prison officials didn’t confirm the call was real until about 9:11 p.m., roughly half an hour after the first call, and responders reached the building minutes later.

The state still hasn’t said what went wrong, and Gov. Bill Lee has paused executions pending a review.

Article Icon 13 Governor Candidates Set Oct. 27 Debate

Democrat Jerri Green and independents David Hatley and Lauren Pinkston will debate Oct. 27 at Middle Tennessee State University. Republican nominee Marsha Blackburn has not yet confirmed if she’ll attend.

Green’s campaign has pushed for a head-to-head matchup, offering Blackburn four debate dates across the state.

Blackburn, who won the GOP nomination by 11 points over Rep. John Rose, has so far declined to debate her opponents.

A TargetSmart poll had Blackburn leading Green 45% to 36%. A Democrat hasn’t won a statewide race in Tennessee since 2006.

Article Icon 1Peyton Manning Joins Tennessee Duet

Former Vols quarterback Peyton Manning teamed up with country singer Riley Green on a surprise duet, Alabama vs. Tennessee, released Monday ahead of this weekend’s rivalry game.

The song has the pair playfully trading jabs over the decades-old rivalry between the Vols and the Crimson Tide.

Green, an Alabama native, is known for Hell of a Way to Go, whose lyric about Alabama beating Tennessee has drawn loud boos at his Knoxville concerts.

No. 14 Tennessee hosts No. 6 Alabama on Saturday at 2:30 p.m. CT in Neyland Stadium.

Flying together with our sponsor

The Flyover

Better hearing doesn’t have to cost thousands. Audien’s new Atom Air hearing aids are just $149, compared with $2,500+ for many traditional hearing aids. Designed for mild to moderate hearing loss, Atom Air features crystal-clear amplified sound, advanced background noise cancellation, four listening modes, and a discreet, comfortable fit.

A single charge provides up to 24 hours of battery life, and there’s no doctor approval required. Atom Air also includes lifetime hearing support, a one-year warranty, and a 45-day money-back guarantee. Hear more for just $149.

Around Tennessee

➤ Powell: A fitness center reopened days after a car crashed through it, causing about $25,000 in damage. The driver, whose license has been suspended 25 times, faces 12 charges. (More)

➤ Gatlinburg: A bear rescued from a restaurant roof last year was found shot dead in a creek, and experts say food-conditioned bears face growing dangers from people. (More)

➤ Nashville: Police arrested a man accused of stealing more than $31,000 in rare Pokémon and Magic: The Gathering cards from the Game Cave in 2024 and reselling them in Alabama. (More)

➤ Rutherford County: Former library director Luanne James is suing after the library board fired her for refusing to move more than 100 books out of the children’s section. (More)

➤ Franklin: A Facebook Marketplace jewelry sale led to an armed robbery at a home, and three suspects from Nashville and Lebanon were arrested after a police chase. (More)

➤ Memphis: Developers plan a 112-room hotel at Central Avenue and Highland Street near the University of Memphis and are seeking a tax deal to help finance it. (More)


Enjoy reading The Tennessee Flyover? Click here to share with your friends and family.

Tennessee Carolina Sports

➤ Vanderbilt removed wide receiver Kayleb Barnett from the team after he was charged with aggravated assault by strangulation over an alleged incident near the Shelby Street Pedestrian Bridge. (More)

➤ SEC Nation broadcasts from outside Ayers Hall Saturday before No. 14 Tennessee hosts No. 6 Alabama, with both teams in home uniforms for the first time since 1970. (More)

➤ The Predators practiced in navy helmets and gold-trimmed navy pants with three stars, likely a preview of their Hometown Remix uniform, which debuts Nov. 7 against St. Louis. (See Photos)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: MLB | NHL | NBA | Tennis

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ Scary Home Repair Bills? Save This Halloween! ServicePlus Home Warranty helps cover eligible repairs to major appliances and home systems, including heating, plumbing, and electrical. For a limited time, enjoy 50% off plus 2 FREE months with qualifying annual plans. Don’t let unexpected breakdowns haunt your budget. Get your free quote today!

Tennessee Business

➤ Goodlettsville voters will decide in November on a half-cent sales tax increase that would give the city Tennessee’s highest rate, raising about $3 million a year. (More)

➤ Tennessee’s nuclear workforce is projected to grow from about 17,000 to 21,000 by 2032, but a report says training isn’t keeping pace for some jobs. (More)

➤ AkzoNobel will close its Nashville powder coatings plant by the end of 2026, cutting 75 jobs and shifting production to facilities in Pennsylvania, Indiana, and Mexico. (More)

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ Upgrade your cookware with the TIBO Titanium Pan. Featuring a durable, naturally nonstick titanium cooking surface without PFAS or PTFE coatings, TIBO delivers even heating, easy cleanup, and compatibility with gas, electric, and induction stovetops. Backed by a lifetime warranty, TIBO is currently 72% off with free shipping.

Flying together with our sponsor

Hearing clearly shouldn’t come with a four-figure price tag. Audien’s new Atom Air hearing aids are available for just $149, featuring amplified sound, background noise cancellation, four listening modes, and up to 24 hours of battery life. Designed for mild to moderate hearing loss, they also include lifetime hearing support, a one-year warranty, and a 45-day money-back guarantee.

Et Cetera

➤ Knoxville 7-year-old Everett Kinkade, who has Down syndrome and a heart defect and has spent about 500 days in the hospital, appeared on a Times Square billboard. (Meet Everett)

➤ A Nashville hotel valet faces felony charges after surveillance video showed him allegedly taking a customer’s silver BMW for a joyride and damaging it. (Watch)

➤ A SpaceX Falcon 9 lit up East Tennessee’s sky early Tuesday on NASA’s 35th commercial resupply mission, carrying 6,300-plus pounds of supplies to the space station. (See Photos)

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ “Impossible” Bone Density Improvements Linked to Overlooked Protein. Recent DEXA scans have shown surprising bone density improvements in some women over 60 after adding a specific protein to their diets. Researchers are examining how this protein compound may provide nutritional support that calcium supplements alone cannot, potentially offering a new approach to maintaining stronger bones as you age. Learn More

The Flyover Podcast

The following stories are featured exclusively on The Flyover Podcast—a daily show that gives you the most important headlines in under 15 minutes. 

➤ Seven simple at-home tests may reveal your risk of death, and most take under a minute. (See Tests)

➤ Pope Leo XIV has lung cancer, the Vatican confirmed after surgeons removed part of his right lung, the first major health crisis of his 17-month papacy. (Hear Episode)

➤ German police have seized a humanoid robot after it allegedly groped a teenage girl while two suspects reportedly livestreamed the encounter. (Hear Details)

  

The Poll

Who do you predict will win the Third Saturday in October showdown?

  1. Tennessee
  2. Alabama
  3. No opinion

 

Previous Results:

Would you visit every U.S. county if you had the opportunity?

  1. Not interested: 47%
  2. Maybe, could be fun: 39%
  3. Definitely: 14%
Tennessee Trivia

Despite its name, the first Alabama-Tennessee game wasn’t played in October. What month was it?

Show me the answer

The Tennessee Flyover

Join The Tennessee Flyover

Facebook Icon Instagram Icon Twitter Icon LinkedIn Icon