Friday, July 24, 2026

Good Morning! On this day in 1866, Tennessee became the first Confederate state to be readmitted into the Union, ending its painful separation throughout the Civil War.

A new study seeks to settle one of the region’s great debates: is it pronounced “Appa-latch-a” or “Appa-lay-chia?” Which way do you say it? Write in to let us know!

If shedding extra pounds and feeling your best this summer is on your agenda, today’s sponsor, Direct Meds, is offering $150 off your first order of doctor-supervised GLP-1 weight-loss treatment delivered right to your door.

Oak Ridge Scientists Lead DOE Mission

The U.S. Department of Energy has selected Oak Ridge National Laboratory scientists to lead nine projects and contribute to 32 more as part of The Genesis Mission, a national initiative to build the world’s most powerful scientific platform by harnessing artificial intelligence.

The projects span a wide range of topics, including AI-enabled discovery of rare earth elements critical to energy technology and national supply chains, self-driving technology research, and weather and water systems forecasting.

Two Oak Ridge scientists have been assigned to develop AI systems that can predict surface and groundwater conditions, forecasting river temperature and streamflow weeks to years in advance.

The DOE hopes scientists from national laboratories like Oak Ridge will use AI to achieve breakthroughs in energy dominance, scientific discovery, and national security.

AirTag in Campaign Sign Leads to Theft Charge

A Rutherford County commissioner seeking reelection surrendered to authorities Tuesday after a theft warrant was issued over a missing campaign sign. His opponent had secretly fitted the sign with an AirTag to track its location after noticing signs had been going missing throughout the race.

Candidate Pat Clements said he cut a small hole in one of his signs, tucked an AirTag inside, and taped it shut. When the sign disappeared from a Murfreesboro intersection, the tracker pinged within 60 feet of Commissioner Romel McMurry’s home.

McMurry says he didn’t steal the sign but “relocated” it to another location with other campaign signs, denied the AirTag pointed to his home, and called the charges “a $6 yard sign” matter he expects will be dismissed.

With early voting already underway ahead of the Aug. 6 election, both candidates are still on the ballot for District 19.

Study Explores ‘Appalachia’ Pronunciation

A podcaster teamed up with a Virginia Tech linguist to finally put data behind one of the region’s most persistent debates, and the results are clear: more than 80% of the 1,500 recordings collected from across the 13-state Appalachian region favored “Appa-latch-a” over “Appa-lay-chia.”

The project started when Chuck Corra, host of the Appodlachia podcast, asked listeners to send in recordings of how they say the word, eventually collecting samples from nearly every county in the region before Virginia Tech associate professor Abby Walker joined the effort to analyze the data.

Walker found that “latch-a” was especially dominant among younger and female-sounding speakers, suggesting that “lay-chia” may be on its way out.

The researchers said their goal was never to declare a winner but to celebrate and destigmatize Appalachian accents.

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➤ Statewide: Tennessee National Guard leaders and state cabinet members traveled to Bulgaria this month to mark 33 years of partnership and expand cooperation. (More)

➤ Roane County: A Kentucky man accused of stealing a semi truck was arrested Thursday after a chase down I-75, a foot pursuit, and a lengthy K-9 and drone search. (More)

➤ Rutherford County: A high school principal drew scrutiny after making a gubernatorial endorsement in a video that identified him by his school title. The district has since spoken with him about its policy against political activity. (See Post)

➤ Knoxville: A 5-year-old with a rare genetic condition is using an eye-gaze device to communicate for the first time. His family is fighting insurance to obtain the device permanently. (See Video)

➤ Haywood County: The school district has a new standardized dress code, but parents say compliance costs could reach $2,000 per family. A petition with over 100 signatures is pushing back. (More)

➤ Lenoir City: Flock Safety has fixed 16 camera poles statewide and launched a nationwide audit after a local road safety advocate raised concerns that some poles are positioned dangerously close to guardrails. (More)

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➤ Tennessee landed five-star running back David Gabriel Georges on Wednesday over Ohio State and Ole Miss. The Chattanooga Baylor School standout is the No. 10 overall recruit in the 2027 class and the top-ranked player in the state. (More)

➤ Knoxville was named a nominee for USA Today‘s Best College Sports Town in the publication’s readers’ choice awards. Voting is open through Aug. 17. (More)

➤ The Nashville Predators hired former NHL forward Matt Calvert as their new forward development coach. Calvert played 11 seasons in the league for Columbus and Colorado before retiring in 2021. (More)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: MLB | Golf

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➤ Ballad Health purchased 15 acres in Unicoi County for a new hospital nearly two years after Hurricane Helene destroyed the original facility. Groundbreaking is set for Aug. 19. (More)

➤ Chattanooga’s LayerWorks is producing American-made 3D printing filament at a Chamber of Commerce incubator, supplying bioplastic made from U.S.-grown corn. (See Photos)

➤ Construction on McGhee Tyson Airport’s six-story parking garage is moving above ground on schedule as the first piece of the airport’s $700 million decade-long expansion plan. (More)

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➤ A Unicoi County 911 dispatcher guided a father through delivering his baby over the phone early Monday. A healthy newborn was crying on the line just six minutes later. (More)

➤ A Nashville car burglar was caught within 45 minutes of the crime after using the victim’s stolen credit card to make a fast food purchase at a McDonald’s. (More)

➤ A black bear was spotted Wednesday evening in Carroll County, one of several recent sightings across West Tennessee. Wildlife officials urge residents to secure trash and keep their distance. (See Photo)

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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. Clicking the links will take you directly to these stories:

➤ Medicare covers a lot, but a new estimate shows retirees still face a soaring healthcare bill that keeps climbing every year. (Hear Details)

➤ Homicide numbers in major American cities are approaching territory the nation has not seen in more than a century. (Hear Episode)

➤ Ford reportedly fired a nine-year assembly worker accused of stealing snacks he insists he paid for. (Listen Now)