Friday, December 13, 2024

Good morning! On this day in 1977, an Air Indiana Flight 216, a DC-3 carrying the University of Evansville basketball team on a flight to Nashville, crashed shortly after takeoff, killing all 29 people on board.

The Memphis Zoo recently added new Asian otters. Check them out in our Et Cetera section!

Did someone send this to you? Keep The Tennessee Flyover coming to your inbox by subscribing today.

We have a new sponsor today, Energous, offering an investment opportunity in wireless power technology.

Sen. Blackburn Introduces DOGE Acts

U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn has introduced a legislative package called the “DOGE Acts,” aimed at enhancing government efficiency and reducing wasteful spending.

Named after President-elect Donald Trump’s proposed Department of Government Efficiency, the DOGE Acts were unveiled last week.

SpaceX CEO Elon Musk and businessman Vivek Ramaswamy, whom Trump has selected to lead the new agency, met with lawmakers on Capitol Hill to discuss transformative reform ideas.

Musk and Ramaswamy have suggested plans that include a 75% reduction in the federal workforce, a $2 trillion cut to federal spending, and the potential elimination of certain federal agencies, as hinted at in interviews and social media posts.

Chattanoogan Wins World Weightlifting Title

Olivia Reeves made history at the 2024 World Weightlifting Championships in Bahrain on Wednesday, becoming the first American lifter since 1958 to win both a world title and Olympic gold, with a combined lift of 589 pounds.

Competing in the 71kg division, the 21-year-old Chattanooga native outperformed North Korea’s Jong Chun Hui and China’s Yang Qiuxia, achieving 120kg (264.6 pounds) in the snatch and 147kg (324 pounds) in the clean and jerk—5kg more than her Olympic-winning total from this summer, as seen in a video highlight.

Reeves, who became the first U.S. lifter since Tara Nott in 2000 to win Olympic gold, is also the youngest American Olympic weightlifting champion since Ike Berger in 1956.

USDA Invests $176M in State’s Rural Infrastructure

The Department of Agriculture announced a $176 million investment in loans and grants to support rural communities across Tennessee, aiming to improve electric grid reliability, provide safe drinking water, and create good-paying jobs as part of a $6.3 billion nationwide effort spanning 43 states.

Among the allocations, Powell Valley Electric Cooperative will receive a $34 million loan to connect 2,812 consumers and improve 195 miles of power lines across Claiborne, Grainger, Hancock, Hawkins, and Union Counties, as well as parts of Virginia.

Sneedville Utility District will use a $53,000 grant to enhance potable water access in Newman’s Ridge through new water lines, upgraded pump stations, and other improvements.

Flying together with our sponsor

This Wireless Innovation Is Working to Solve a $300B Problem

Retailers lose $300B annually due to poor inventory management. That’s just one of many large-scale problems that can be solved by Energous’ wireless power solutions.

You read that correctly: wireless power. Think Wi-Fi, but for power supply. This company is working to make power cords obsolete, and you can invest as they do it.

What they’re creating has the potential to send shockwaves through the world economy— a world where battery-free devices are always connected and real-time data is always accessible. That’s why it’s so crucial to retail, supply chain, and logistics operations. Data is the oil that keeps these companies running smoothly. And thanks to Energous’ wireless power network transmitters, they could get a 24/7 flow of data without depending as much on batteries or cords.

Energous has already landed a contract with a Fortune 10 multinational retailer to supply their wireless power solutions. The contract opens them up to 4,700 retail locations across the U.S.

We believe this is just the beginning.

Become a shareholder in Energous as they work to scale the “IoT Innovation of the Year” nationwide.

➤ East Tennessee: Three communities will receive nearly $1.3 million in state loans for water system improvements, including Dandridge, White Pine, and Jackboro. (More)

➤ Rutherford County: A group of hackers is reportedly selling data obtained from the county’s school system after recent ransomware attacks. (More)

➤ Nashville: The interim President of Tennessee State University, Ronald Johnson, abruptly resigned on Wednesday as the school deals with ongoing financial issues. (More)

➤ Savannah: A major fire at the Memphis-area four-story Sleep Inn shut down the location that was under construction, leaving the hotel a total loss. The fire’s cause is under investigation, and no one was injured. (More)

➤ Greeneville: A 2.3-magnitude earthquake occurred Tuesday evening about five miles north of the community, detected just before 10 p.m. (More)

➤ Chattanooga: Investigators reveal that a rockslide was to blame for causing the recent fire that damaged the historic Incline Railway. (See Pictures)

➤ The University of Tennessee’s 2025 football schedule has been released, including in-state games against ETSU and Vanderbilt, with a new Week 3 matchup against the Georgia Bulldogs. (More)

➤ Tennessee’s Dylan Sampson was named AP’s SEC Offensive Player of the Year on Wednesday. (More)

➤ The Tennessee Titans’ Jarvis Brownlee went viral on social media after helping a waitress pay her bills. (See Video)

➤ Country Cascades Water Park Resort has opened Pigeon Forge’s first indoor waterpark, Shipwreck Bay, a 16,000-square-foot attraction with a zero-entry splash pad, four thrilling slides, and interactive features for endless fun. (More)

➤ Renovation plans for the multimillion-dollar racetrack at the Nashville Fairgrounds have been met with both excitement and debate over the future of the pending deal. (More)

➤ East Tennessee State University’s Master of Public Health Program was recently ranked as the best MPH program in the county by Healthcare Management Review Guide. (More)

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ Start Breathing Better Instantly! Intake Breathing Strips instantly open your nasal passages, letting you take deep breaths that improve your overall health. Enjoy 15 tabs for improved breathing! (See It Here)

Flying together with our sponsor

This IoT Tech Makes Power Cords Obsolete. The ultimate Internet of Things won’t need cords or batteries. Trackers and sensors will charge through the air, like connecting to Wi-Fi—and it’s all thanks to Energous’ patented wireless power technology. Already recognized as the “IoT Innovation of the Year,” Energous is targeting $650B in markets with its groundbreaking technology. And you can invest now in a company working to revolutionize power. Learn how to become an Energous shareholder today.

This is a paid advertisement for Energous’ Regulation A offering. Please read the offering circular at invest.energous.com for additional information on the company and the risks factors to the offering.

➤ Tennessee State Parks released its best state parks for winter camping, led by Roan Mountain and Fall Creek Falls. (See List)

➤ A new hip-hop museum is being proposed for Memphis that would likely bring around 40,000 visitors to the city per year. (See Video Report)

➤ Adorable Asian otters join the lineup of animals at the Memphis Zoo. Check them out in their new habitat ahead of the holidays. (Watch Video)

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ Relieves Pain FAST — And It’s So EASY! Paingone Plus fits the power of TENS into a tiny, portable pen that anyone can use. And it only takes 60-90 seconds of treatment time! With zero setup and zero troubleshooting to place the sticky pads, you’ll be feeling better ASAP.