Wednesday, October 21, 2026

Good Morning! On this day in 1896, Knoxville kicked off its October Carnival, a rowdy downtown street festival complete with parades and costumed characters. The celebration doubled as a fundraiser for the city’s first public hospital.

A real ice-skating rink is coming to downtown Nashville next month, along with a 40-foot Christmas tree. When does your family start getting into the holiday spirit, and how do you kick off the Christmas season? Hit reply and tell us.

Which fast food chain is the best? McDonald’s? Chick-fil-A? Panda Express? All three made this year’s list of America’s best and worst fast food chains. One of them sits near the very top. One is tied for dead last. Ranked by more than 16,000 customers on food quality, order accuracy, and value. A champion that held the crown for 11 straight years just lost it, and the new No. 1 had never been ranked before this year. On today’s episode of The Flyover Podcast, Ayla counts down the five best and five worst fast food chains in America. Where does your favorite rank? Let us know after you listen. Tune in here!

When is the right time to retire? Later today, watch for a message from our partner, Fisher Investments, with a free retirement planning guide.

Today’s sponsor, PuriProduce, offers a simple, chemical-free way to help clean your fruits and vegetables, giving you added peace of mind with every meal.

Audit Finds Delayed Mail at Nashville PO

A federal audit found about 5,158 pieces of delayed mail at Nashville’s Church Street Station post office during a July inspection.

The Postal Service’s Inspector General also found unsecured keys, scanning errors, and weak controls that increase the risk of mail theft at the station, which serves about 22,000 people downtown.

Auditors reviewed post offices in Hendersonville and Lebanon during the same July visit and found delayed mail at those offices, too.

USPS management agreed with the findings and committed to more staff training and tighter security procedures.

Inmate Killed in Clifton Prison Assault

An incarcerated man was killed and another injured in an assault involving at least three men at South Central Correctional Facility, a CoreCivic-run state prison in Clifton, prompting a lockdown.

Details on what led to the assault and the identities of the men involved weren’t immediately released.

It’s at least the second deadly fight at the Wayne County prison in just over a year, after an inmate was killed in August 2025 in a brawl that sent two others to the hospital.

The prison has a long history of violence, including two inmates killed within seven months in 2013 and 2014.

Ballerini Brings Bedside Music to Hospital

Knoxville native Kelsea Ballerini has helped launch a Musicians On Call program at Dolly Parton Children’s Hospital, bringing live music to patients, families, and caregivers.

The national nonprofit came to Knoxville at Ballerini’s request and will recruit local musicians and volunteers to perform at kids’ bedsides.

Ballerini has volunteered with the group for about a decade, helping launch its first children’s program in Phoenix in 2016.

The group, whose volunteers also include Darius Rucker and Trisha Yearwood, honored Ballerini in 2024 with its Music Heals Golden Ukulele award.

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➤ Sevier County: A man arrested after a SWAT standoff at a Kodak motel is accused of setting a woman on fire with gasoline and threatening to kill her. (More)

➤ Memphis: A federal judge temporarily lifted the City Council’s ban on Rep. Justin J. Pearson and five others, allowing them to attend Tuesday’s meeting on a proposed data center moratorium. (More)

➤ Sumner County: Crews have spent the past two weeks replacing more than 70 road signs that were stolen around the county. (More)

➤ Nashville: The General Jackson Showboat will shut down Dec. 15 after more than 40 years on the Cumberland River, citing ongoing maintenance problems. Dozens of employees will be laid off. (More)

➤ Monroe County: Monroe County Friends of Animals euthanized 21 dogs held for more than a year after a serious attack on a woman in September 2025, citing public safety risks. (More)

➤ Jefferson County: The county landfill could reach capacity within about a year, and building a new disposal cell could cost $2.2 million to $8 million. (More)

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➤ The rebuilding Grizzlies open their season with Rookie of the Year candidate Cameron Boozer leading a young core that some analysts think could surprise. (See Preview)

➤ The Titans released defensive lineman Jordan Elliot following an Oct. 15 incident, declining to share any further details. (More)

➤ Battle Ground Academy quarterback Bo Bryan, son of Luke Bryan, broke his collarbone Friday and will need surgery that likely ends his senior season. (More)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: NBA | NCAAF | NHL | Soccer

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➤ ITT Goulds Pumps will invest $31 million in its first Tennessee manufacturing and distribution facility on Mineral Wells Road in Memphis, creating 57 jobs. (More)

➤ PepsiCo is closing its Knoxville bottling plant, eliminating 112 jobs on Jan. 1, 2027. Workers will get paid notice through that date, plus benefits and transition help. (More)

➤ Warm weather has delayed peak fall color in East Tennessee, which could stretch the tourism season for businesses like Sevierville’s Scenic Helicopter Tours. (More)

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➤ Oak Ridge National Laboratory researchers are working with NASA to put a nuclear reactor on the moon by 2030 to power a lunar habitat. (More)

➤ The state Division of Forestry wants Tennesseans to collect white oak acorns through Nov. 15 to help regrow the state’s white oak forests. (More)

➤ Nashville Yards will open a real ice-skating rink, “Rink Under Broad,” on Nov. 21 and light a 40-foot Christmas tree on Nov. 28. (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.

➤ What are Americans’ favorite fast food chains, and which ones land at the bottom? (Hear List)

➤ Ohio’s Democratic candidate for governor is being denounced as a liar by her mother in a new ad. (Hear Story)

➤ Robert and Ethel Kennedy’s granddaughter has died at 42, years after a paralyzing spinal cord injury. (Listen Now)

With Pepsi closing its Knoxville plant, let’s settle the debate once and for all:

Previous Results:

Should fans be allowed to storm the field after big wins?

No, it’s dangerous: 40%
I see both sides: 26%
Yes, it’s special: 20%
I don’t care: 14%

The General Jackson Showboat, which docks for good Dec. 15, takes its name from what?

Show me the answer

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Wednesday, October 21, 2026

Wednesday, October 21, 2026

Audit Finds Delayed Mail at Nashville PO

Inmate Killed in Clifton Prison Assault

Ballerini Brings Bedside Music to Hospital

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