Sunday, October 25, 2026

Good Morning! On this day in 1803, the Tennessee General Assembly formed Dickson County from the counties of Montgomery and Robertson and named it in honor of Congressman William Dickson, a Nashville physician.

🌕 Look to the eastern horizon at dusk this evening for a special treat—the Hunter’s Moon peaks tonight. Learn about the meaning and folklore behind this month’s full moon in Top Stories and test your moon knowledge in today’s Trivia.

In case you missed it on The Flyover Podcast, Ayla counted down the five best and five worst fast-food chains in America, ranked by more than 16,000 customers based on food quality, order accuracy, and value. McDonald’s, Chick-fil-A, and Panda Express all made the list. One sits near the very top, and one is tied for dead last. Plus, a champion that held the crown for 11 straight years just lost it, and the new No. 1 had never even been ranked before this year. Where does your favorite land? Tune in here!

A fresh start can begin long before someone leaves prison. For men and women behind bars in Tennessee, it can start with something as simple as receiving a Bible. Today’s sponsor, Prison Fellowship, invites you to help put God’s Word into the hands of someone asking for it.

DCS Adds Bonuses for Case Managers

Tennessee’s Department of Children’s Services will pay Davidson County case managers retention bonuses of up to $5,000 a year as part of a $3 million-plus push to hire and keep staff.

Starting in November, new hires there can also collect sign-on bonuses of up to $2,500, which the department says it needs in an especially competitive job market. Statewide, 560 program specialists and coordinators are getting raises, with anyone below the new minimum bumped up and everyone else getting a 2% increase.

Staffing has dogged the agency for years: in its 2023 budget year, DCS lost nearly half of its first-year case managers and reported 486 openings.

In early 2023, the department raised starting pay for entry-level case managers to $50,600, up from $43,596. “Our frontline staff shows up for children and families when they need us most,” Commissioner Margie Quin said.

Dolly’s Niece Named Estate Ambassador

Dolly Parton’s estate has named her niece, Danielle Parton, its official brand ambassador to carry on the country legend’s legacy and connect with fans.

The commercial airline pilot, military veteran, and moonshine entrepreneur introduced herself in a video announcement nearly two months after her aunt’s death. “Hey y’all, I’m Danielle Parton. I grew up in East Tennessee in a family y’all have heard of,” she said.

Danielle served two decades in the military, and Dolly spoke at her retirement ceremony in 2025. She also founded Shine Girl, a moonshine distillery in Sevier County.

The estate said Danielle’s business ventures draw on both sides of her family: the Partons through her father, Bobby Lee, and the Nolands through her mother, Doris Maxine. Danielle was the first woman in her family to earn a four-year college degree.

Hunter’s Moon Rises Tonight

October’s full Hunter’s Moon will rise over Middle Tennessee around sunset this evening and peak at 11:12 p.m., bringing a little extra spooky glow to the final days of the month before Halloween.

Look toward the eastern horizon as darkness falls. The steady golden light beside the moon is the planet Saturn.

No telescope is needed, and the moon, when viewed low on the horizon, can look bigger and more orange than usual.

The Hunter’s Moon is the full moon after the Harvest Moon. Its name comes from the fall hunting season, when fields are typically cleared, leaves have fallen, and animals are easier to spot in open landscapes. The bright moon rising soon after sunset provides extra evening light, allowing hunters to track game longer into the night. For generations, this was the season to hunt, preserve meat, and lay in a store of provisions to sustain families through the long winter months ahead.

Flying together with our sponsor

What if the Bible you helped provide became someone’s first step?

A first step toward faith. Toward understanding forgiveness. Toward believing that the next chapter of life can look different from the last.

For incarcerated men and women in Tennessee, that opportunity can begin with having access to a Bible. But some who want one are still without one.

Prison Fellowship works in Tennessee prisons, and you can help support its mission by giving toward Bible distribution.

It’s a straightforward way to make a personal impact: helping place God’s Word in the hands of someone who wants to read it.

You may never hear their story. You can still help give them a place to begin.

Help send a Bible today.

➤ Montgomery County: Deputies rescued two people from a burning vehicle Friday after the driver fled a traffic stop and crashed into a utility pole about a minute later. Charges are pending. (More)

➤ Memphis: The city has posted one of the largest crime drops among major U.S. cities, and residents say the improvement is becoming visible in their neighborhoods. (Watch Report)

➤ Wilson County: Residents who reported E. coli infections are finally seeing progress on the flooding that has hit their properties for years. (Watch Report)

➤ Chattanooga: A senior Chattanooga Fire Department firefighter is no longer employed after being arrested in McMinn County on aggravated assault and other charges. (Learn More)

➤ Bolivar: West Tennessee Healthcare’s new Bolivar Hospital is set to open Nov. 9, replacing a Hardeman County hospital built in 1974. The building has six inpatient beds, 12 emergency rooms, and a sleep lab. (See Hospital)

➤ Washington County: A preserved section of a log that predates Tennessee statehood returned home Friday. It once formed part of the foundation of the county’s original 1778 courthouse and was given to the Washington County Archives. (Learn More)

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➤ No. 11 Tennessee lost 27-24 at South Carolina on a walk-off field goal after the Gamecocks tied the game with 1:17 left and forced a fumble in the final minute. Penalties wiped out three Tennessee touchdowns. (More)

➤ Vanderbilt visited No. 12 Kentucky, seeking its first SEC win after a 0-4 conference start. The Commodores had won the teams’ previous two meetings, but entered this year’s game as a 10.5-point underdog. (See Details)

➤ The Tennessee Titans will look to build on last week’s victory over the Indianapolis Colts and pick up their first home win against the Cleveland Browns today. The Titans currently sit as narrow underdogs. (More)

➤ Nashville SC clinched the 2026 Supporters’ Shield yesterday with a 2-0 victory at CF Montreal, winning the trophy for the first time in club history. Nashville also has a chance to surpass 2024 Miami for the all-time points record with a strong performance in its final three games. (More)

➤ Memphis Grizzlies first-round pick Cam Boozer rebounded from a tough 2-for-15 NBA debut with a strong performance in his second career game, a victory over the Golden State Warriors, tallying 25 points, 13 rebounds, 6 assists, and 2 steals. (More)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: NCAAF | MLB | WNBA | NHL | NBA | Soccer | Golf

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A familiar book can become a new beginning.

You may have a Bible on your shelf or beside your bed. Someone in a Tennessee prison is hoping to have one, too.

Through Prison Fellowship, your generosity helps provide access to Scripture for incarcerated people seeking its message.

A Bible of their own means they can read, reflect, ask questions, and explore faith in the moments they need it.

Give the gift of a Bible.

➤ An International Grillfest event benefiting the Tennessee State Veterans Home in Humboldt was held at Bailey Park to support local veterans and the facility. Cooks sanctioned by the Steak Cookoff Association competed to be the best world-class steak cook. (More)

➤ Johnny Cash’s farm in Bon Aqua, a 107-acre spread he loved at first sight in 1972, was abandoned when a fan bought it for $895,000 in 2015. The new owner turned it into a museum honoring Cash’s life and music. The retreat, which Cash called “the center of my universe,” features a pre-Civil War farmhouse where he lived and escaped public life, walking grounds, and the American Garage. (See Hideaway Farm)

➤ The University of Tennessee Medical Center operates a mobile mammography unit serving 21 counties, six of them rural, to make screenings more accessible for women in rural areas where screening facilities may be 30 minutes away. A second unit is planned for January 2027. (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, straight from the heart of the country.

➤ Linda McMahon pursues an unusual career goal: convincing Congress that her own department isn’t needed. (Hear More)

➤ Pooh’s rumored British homecoming fizzled before the bear could pack his pants, which he never wore anyway. (Listen Now)

➤ Michelin inspectors loosened their belts across the South and crowned three new stars, including a restaurant in rural Georgia. (Podcast Available)