Friday, May 22, 2026

Good Morning! On this day in 1978, actress Ginnifer Goodwin was born in Memphis, later rising to fame for her roles in productions like Big Love, Once Upon a Time, and Zootopia.

Dolly Parton says that NightFlight Expedition, a new attraction at Dollywood, might be enough to make her finally conquer a lifelong aversion. Find out more in the story below.

The Democratic National Committee just released its long-buried 192-page autopsy of the 2024 election. What went wrong? Who was to blame for their losses? While the report assigns blame across the board, it leaves some of the biggest questions still unanswered. On The Flyover Podcast, Ayla Brown shares the 5 biggest revelations from the report, what it quietly leaves out, and how both sides are reacting. Tune in here!

Today’s sponsor, RAD Intel, is drawing attention for its explosive growth and AI-powered marketing platform, already being used by Fortune 1000 brands to predict campaign performance before ad dollars are spent.

Take The Flyover with you. Busy day? Listen to our daily 15-minute podcast while commuting, cooking, or walking the dog, your Flyover fix, anywhere.

Man Jailed Over Post Wins $835K

Perry County owes a man $835,000 after he spent 37 days behind bars for posting a Facebook meme after the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.

Larry Bushart was arrested over claims that the post threatened a school shooting. The image quoted President Trump as saying, “We have to get over it” after a 2024 school shooting in a different Perry County, with Bushart captioning it, “Seems relevant today.”

A local prosecutor later dropped all charges, and Bushart sued under the First Amendment. Civil liberties groups across the political spectrum backed Bushart’s case, calling the arrest a First Amendment violation.

“I am pleased my First Amendment rights have been vindicated,” Bushart said in a statement after the settlement was announced Wednesday.

Execution Halted, Delayed for a Year

Tony Carruthers’ execution was called off yesterday after a medical team failed to set a backup IV line, prompting Gov. Bill Lee to grant the death row inmate a one-year reprieve.

Medical personnel successfully established a primary IV line, but attempts at accessing alternate veins failed, and a central line couldn’t be inserted, officials said.

Carruthers has maintained his innocence since his conviction in the 1994 kidnapping and murder of three people in Memphis. His legal team argues that no physical evidence ties him to the crime.

He would have been the first person executed in Tennessee this year. The state lifted a three-year moratorium last year over concerns about lethal injection drug testing.

Memorial Day Ceremonies across Tennessee

Nashville, Madison, and other communities statewide are hosting Memorial Day ceremonies on Sunday and Monday, including wreath-layings, music, and military tributes planned to honor fallen service members.

Middle Tennessee’s weekend kicks off at Andrew Jackson’s Hermitage, which is hosting its Path of Glory Dedication Ceremony today at 2 p.m.

Meanwhile, Hendersonville’s Memorial Day Classic takes place Monday, where veteran opening ceremonies begin at 7 a.m. before a 5K at Drakes Creek Park.

Some West Tennessee communities, like Medina, are holding services on Monday, when the Lions Club ceremony is set for 9 a.m. as part of a local effort to honor the fallen.

Help Us Test Flyover Updates

Several days ago, we announced something new coming to The Flyover: Flyover Updates, a quick afternoon message with the top breaking stories of the day, delivered straight to your phone while the news is still happening.

The response so far has been encouraging.

Before we officially launch in June, we’re inviting The Tennessee Flyover readers to help test the experience and give us feedback.

Here’s what you can expect:

• A simple afternoon text message
• The biggest developing stories you haven’t seen yet
• No apps, clutter, or endless notifications
• The same straightforward Flyover reporting you already trust

A lot happens between this morning’s edition and tomorrow’s. Flyover Updates is designed to help you stay informed without spending all day chasing headlines.

If you’d like to be part of our early test group, sign up here.

We’d love to have you help shape what Flyover Updates becomes before the full launch.

Thank you for reading The Tennessee Flyover and being part of what we’re building.

Flying together with our sponsor

This AI Company Has F1000 Traction and 5400% Growth

Most AI companies are still asking investors to bet on what might happen someday.

RAD Intel is already operating with real traction.

The company’s AI-driven platform helps brands predict marketing performance before campaigns launch, allowing decisions to happen while budgets are still flexible and outcomes can still be influenced. As marketing costs continue rising, that kind of decision advantage is becoming more valuable to brands and agencies trying to improve efficiency before money is committed.

That traction is already showing up in the business. RAD Intel doubled sales in 2025, secured recurring 7-figure enterprise contracts, and reported 3.5x ROI across campaigns with Fortune 1000 brands and agencies. Over the past five years, the company has delivered 5,400%+ valuation growth, raised $85M+ from 24,000+ investors, been selected by the Adobe Design Fund, and has backing from multiple institutional funds.*

Nasdaq ticker reserved: $RADI. Shares are currently available at $0.95, with the offering 95% allocated.

Lock in $0.95/share now.

➤ Nashville: A Vanderbilt University poll found bipartisan skepticism among state voters about artificial intelligence in healthcare, with most saying human care is worth the time and cost. (More)

➤ Chattanooga: Spain’s national soccer team will hold a free public training session at Baylor School next month, giving local fans a rare up-close look ahead of the 2026 World Cup. (See Details)

➤ Memphis: A judge heard arguments yesterday in the NAACP’s challenge to the state’s new congressional map, which splits a majority-black voting district into three separate ones. (More)

➤ Also Memphis: The Memphis Safe Task Force and U.S. Marshals have arrested two men wanted for murder. Tuesday’s operation netted 44 total arrests and five recovered firearms. (More)

➤ Kingston: A rezoning proposal for a new RV campground is drawing concern from residents, who gathered to voice opposition to the development. (More)

➤ Knoxville: About 1,200 riders in Run For The Wall passed through this week on their cross-country motorcycle journey from California to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. (More)

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➤ Amazon’s Memorial Day Sale is here with major discounts on TVs, kitchen gadgets, outdoor gear, home essentials, electronics, and more. Shoppers are finding limited-time deals across thousands of top brands before summer officially begins. These holiday savings won’t last long, so now’s the time to grab the best bargains before they’re gone. (SHOP NOW)

➤ The Nashville Predators Foundation distributed a record $855,643 in Helper Grants to 199 Middle Tennessee nonprofits this week, part of more than $4 million the foundation gave during the 2025-26 season. (More)

➤ Grizzlies forward Cedric Coward was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team after averaging 13.6 points and 5.9 rebounds as a rookie. (More)

➤ A bridge in South Knoxville was renamed the Coach John Majors Memorial Bridge this week in honor of the legendary Tennessee football coach who led the Vols from 1977 to 1992. (More)

➤ No. 7 Tennessee softball continues its series against No. 10 Georgia this afternoon on ESPN2. The series winner will advance to the Women’s College World Series. (More)

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➤ Memphis DME Supply is facing scrutiny after the state received a complaint that customers are being charged for medical equipment they never ordered or received. (More)

➤ The Nine Lakes of East Tennessee has been designated as the state’s fourth American Viticultural Area, further establishing Tennessee as an emerging wine-country destination. (More)

➤ Vanderbilt University’s new statewide poll finds most Tennesseans are anxious about the economy, with the rising cost of necessities ranking as the top concern across the state. (More)

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RAD Intel Shares Are Available at $0.95

RAD Intel shares are currently available at $0.95 through an SEC-qualified offering, but the current window is closing.

The round is now 95% allocated as investor demand continues rising. Support now includes operators from Google, Meta, and Amazon as the company expands its AI platform across Fortune 1000 brands, agencies, and enterprise workflows. Nasdaq ticker reserved: $RADI.

Learn more before the $0.95 pricing window closes soon.

This is a paid advertisement for RAD Intel made pursuant to Regulation A+ offering and involves risk, including the possible loss of principal. The valuation is set by the Company and there is currently no public market for the Company’s Common Stock. Nasdaq ticker “RADI” has been reserved by RAD Intel and any potential listing is subject to future regulatory approval and market conditions. Please read the offering circular and related risks at invest.radintel.ai.

➤ Dolly Parton says that Dollywood’s new NightFlight Expedition coaster may make her finally conquer her lifelong aversion to rollercoasters, wig and all. (More)

➤ The Memphis Redbirds are making Triple-A baseball more accessible to college students with a new $7 Student Ticket initiative, available with a valid student ID at AutoZone Park. (More)

➤ The Great American River Run closes out Memphis in May this weekend with a road race and a family-friendly fun run along the Mississippi River tomorrow. (More)

Flying together with our sponsor

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