Friday, July 25, 2025

Good Morning! On this day in 1982, actor Brad Renfro, known for his stardom as a child actor in films like The Client and Apt Pupil, was born in Knoxville.

Voting is underway for the 2025 “Coolest Thing Made in Tennessee” competition, featuring products ranging from Sullivan County helicopters to Washington County’s lemon-lime soft drink Dr. Enuf. See voting details in the story below.

Today’s sponsor is Worksport, a new battery and solar mobile charging technology available for investment now.

Don’t feel like reading the national edition of The Flyover? Tune in to The Flyover Podcast! New episodes drop daily—watch on YouTube or listen on Spotify and Apple Podcasts, all in under 15 minutes.

Two TN Kids Recovering from La Crosse Virus

Two Knox County children were hospitalized earlier this month with La Crosse virus—a rare, mosquito-borne illness that can cause brain inflammation (encephalitis) in severe cases.

Most infected individuals show mild or no symptoms, but children under 16 face higher risks, including seizures and long-term neurological effects. Both children are now recovering at home.

Health officials confirmed these are the county’s first cases of the virus this year.

TN Launches Auto College Admission Pilot

Tennessee is launching a new statewide program this fall to send automatic college acceptance letters to 41,000 high school seniors—no applications, essays, or fees required.

Students at 230 selected schools will receive personalized letters in November detailing which of 53 public and private colleges have pre-admitted them, with about half also getting tailored financial aid estimates.

Backed by the Tennessee Promise, the program is designed to boost enrollment, especially among low-income and rural students, by simplifying the path to higher education.

Cross-Country Skateboarder Rolls Through TN

Brooke Johnson visited Middle Tennessee this week on a 3,000-mile skateboard journey from California to Virginia, honoring her late stepfather, Roger McElroy, who died last year from complications related to a spinal cord injury.

Her route brought her through Nashville and into Franklin, Kentucky, where she reunited with McElroy’s brother—an emotional stop on a mission that’s part memorial, part fundraiser.

Johnson is raising awareness about spinal cord injury recovery and says the road has deepened her connection to her stepfather’s memory. Follow her journey on Instagram.

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Analysts Project This Stock Could Reach $10 a Share. You Can Still Invest for $3.25 Per Unit.

Worksport’s stock recently hit $4.29 on the Nasdaq.

Some Wall Street analysts say it could reach $10.33 within a year, 140% higher.

But you can still purchase units for $3.25.

It’s through an offer you won’t find on the Nasdaq.

Right now, they’re giving investors the chance to buy investment units at a fixed price of $3.25.

Each unit gives you one convertible preferred share (with an 8% dividend) and one warrant to purchase another common share.

That’s up to two shares.

And yes, you can buy the units at $3.25, immediately convert your preferred share, and then sell the converted common share.

The company has already made a name for itself selling truck covers. Every 100 dealers they sign represents millions of dollars in potential revenue, and their truck tonneau cover business has already signed more than 400 dealers, up 4X since the start of 2025.

They just announced a 50% production increase and 2X margin growth in the last five months.

Up next, a potential $13 billion market opportunity—that’s why we believe it’s an exciting moment for investors to invest.

Worksport is combining its solar truck covers with battery systems to launch a flagship mobile power system later this year. It can power everything from emergency response to construction sites to camping.

Learn more about this opportunity and invest in Worksport’s next chapter.

➤ Statewide: Gov. Bill Lee announced over $6 million in state grants for six East Tennessee sites to boost rural economic development through infrastructure upgrades. (More)

➤ Also statewide: The Tennessee Highway Patrol announced it will conduct sobriety and driver’s license checkpoints across multiple East Tennessee counties throughout August. (See Checkpoints)

➤ Memphis: Professional wrestler Hulk Hogan, who competed in the Memphis region early on in his career, has died at the age of 71 in his Florida home. (More)

➤ Nashville: “Heat Patrol,” a volunteer team with Emergency Management, is handing out cold water and checking on the homeless as the heat index climbs past 105 degrees. (More)

➤ Knoxville: Pastor Chris Battle is converting vacant church lots into urban gardens, providing fresh produce to local neighborhoods classified as food deserts. (See Video)

➤ Brentwood: A man lost over $648,000 after scammers posing as federal agents convinced him to convert his life savings into gold bars, which were later stolen by fake couriers. (More)

➤ Tennessee defensive back Boo Carter has gone completely radio silent as fall camp approaches, causing Vols insider Tony Basilio to say he’s unsure if the sophomore will even play this season. (More)

➤ The Memphis Grizzlies are hiring big-man specialist Darnell Lazare as an assistant coach for the upcoming season, presumably to work with center Zach Edey. (More)

➤ The Nashville Sounds beat the Charlotte Knights 14-13 in an extra-innings game on Wednesday thanks to a clutch walk-off hit by Oliver Dunn. (See Hit)

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➤ Financial guru Dave Ramsey’s former 13,500-square-foot Franklin mansion is back on the market for $15 million, featuring seven bedrooms, 10 bathrooms, a wine cellar, a sauna, and sweeping hilltop views. (See Mansion)

➤ The Nashville City Council approved new building codes allowing six-story apartment construction with one staircase instead of two, aiming to lower rental costs by as much as 22%. (More)

➤ Osaic Wealth acquired a majority stake in Innovative Wealth Team, a Nashville-based advisory firm managing $700 million in assets. (More)

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➤ Starting up in Tennessee? LegalZoom makes LLC formation simple, protecting personal assets and giving your business a solid foundation. Join more than 4 million businesses who have trusted LegalZoom. Form your TN LLC today!

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Why Some Wall Street Analysts Rate This Stock a ‘Strong Buy’

Some Wall Street analysts give this stock a 140% one-year growth target—projecting a $10.33 share price from the recent $4.29.

But right now, you can invest in Worksport for $3.25 per unit.

For $3.25, you get one preferred share convertible into one share of common stock and a warrant. That means you’re buying in at a discount from the recent share price, with a warrant to purchase an additional share on top.

Worksport’s truck tonneau cover business is on track for over $20 million in revenue and 30% margins by year-end. Revenue is up 455% year over year.

Next up: the launch of their flagship solar + battery system. It has the potential to power everything from camping to construction sites, creating a $13 billion market opportunity.

With cash flow positivity in sight, the next 6 months could be pivotal.

Invest now at $3.25 per unit.

This is a paid advertisement for Worksport Regulation A Offering. Please read the offering circular at http://invest.worksport.com/.

➤ Fourteen Tennessee-made products—from handmade axes and custom spurs to tactical ammo and cold packs—are finalists in the 2025 “Coolest Thing Made in Tennessee” competition. Public voting ends on Tuesday. (See Contenders)

➤ The 15th annual Ijams Hummingbird Festival lands in Knoxville on Aug. 16, offering bird-banding demos, guided hikes, family workshops, and over 50 nature-themed vendors. (See Details)

➤ The Rejuvenated Mama, a new spa in Johnson City, offers massages, facials, and more—plus free on-site childcare—giving moms a well-earned break. (More)

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Even our Flyover podcast host Ayla is a fan—see her talk about it here!