Friday, May 8, 2026

Good Morning! On this day in 1954, An Officer and a Gentleman actor David Keith was born in Knoxville. He also starred in films like The Lords of Discipline and White of the Eye.

Today’s edition features multiple mysterious disappearances, including a Scottish Highland calf named Meatloaf and a Daniel Boone-tied historic marker. Pull out your magnifying glass and explore the cases in the stories below.

Say goodbye to backbreaking scrubbing and tangled cords. Today’s sponsor, the HydroX5 Cordless Pressure Washer, delivers powerful, hassle-free cleaning that makes spring refreshes faster, easier, and oddly satisfying.

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.

New Congressional Map Draws Protests

State lawmakers approved new congressional maps Thursday in a special session, redrawing districts in a move expected to flip the Memphis-based seat held by Rep. Steve Cohen, D-Memphis, to Republicans. Gov. Bill Lee signed the bill Thursday afternoon.

The vote came amid protests at the state Capitol, where several demonstrators were reportedly detained, including the brother of state Rep. Justin Pearson, D-Memphis.

One Memphis lawmaker responded by calling for the city to secede from Tennessee, framing the redistricting as an attack on black voters.

To clear the way, the General Assembly first had to overturn its own ban on mid-decade redistricting. Cohen has vowed to fight the new lines.

Music City Loop Goes Residential

Elon Musk’s Boring Company says residents in three downtown Nashville high-rises will get private access to the planned Music City Loop tunnel system, offering underground Tesla rides to the airport and Lower Broadway.

Residents of Paramount Towers, Prime, and Alcove on Church Street would be able to take elevators directly to loop stations inside their buildings. See a map here.

The company says rides to Nashville International Airport could take about nine minutes, while Lower Broadway would be just a two-minute trip underground.

Completion of the first phase is expected by the end of the year, though no full timeline has been announced.

Luke Combs Breaks Neyland Record

Luke Combs set a new Neyland Stadium concert attendance record last weekend, drawing 92,045 fans to Knoxville for his My Kinda Saturday Night Tour.

The University of Tennessee says the concert marked the largest audience ever for one event at the stadium, topping the previous record of 84,846 set by Garth Brooks in 2019.

Neyland has seen massive music crowds before, including Morgan Wallen’s two-night run in 2024, but Combs now holds the top spot for a single show.

Officials also used the event to test new post-event traffic patterns ahead of another big crowd later this month when the Savannah Bananas come to town.

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➤ Statewide: Officials adopted a new long-term wildlife conservation plan to protect vulnerable species and habitats before they become endangered. (See Details)

➤ Also statewide: Tennessee ranked among the top states for middle-class income growth over the past decade, with wages rising 18% between 2014 and 2024. (More)

➤ Dover: A days-long manhunt ended after authorities found the body of a former Special Forces soldier accused of shooting his wife during a domestic dispute. (More)

➤ Gatlinburg: Park rangers are investigating after 33 dead black vultures were dumped along Foothills Parkway in a possible violation of federal wildlife protection laws. (More)

➤ Dickson: A Scottish Highland bull calf named Meatloaf vanished from a Dickson farm without a trace, prompting owners to file a police report after finding no signs of predators. (More)

➤ Wilson County: Nancy Riggan Green and her husband established two University of Tennessee scholarships honoring her late parents, longtime residents and proud UT alumni Rufus and Christine Riggan. (More)

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➤ Former Tennessee football coach Derek Dooley is running for the U.S. Senate in Georgia as a Republican. (More)

➤ Tennesseans wagered $5.87 billion on sports in 2025—more than Greenland’s GDP—as the state’s booming sports betting industry generated a record $108 million in tax revenue. (More)

➤ No. 5 Tennessee softball was upset 4-1 by No. 13 Ole Miss in the second round of the SEC Tournament, ending the Lady Vols’ postseason run after just one game. (More)

➤ The Vols’ first-ever home game against the Texas Longhorns will be a Checker Neyland game, the school announced this week. (More)

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➤ A recent survey shows Middle Tennessee companies remain optimistic about growth, but rising housing costs, labor shortages, and inflation are raising concerns. (More)

➤ Chattanooga launched a new employment website designed to streamline hiring and attract workers through a partnership with nonprofit Work for America. (More)

➤ Culver’s could open its first Tri-Cities restaurant within a year behind the Publix on West State of Franklin Road as Johnson City leaders consider a land sale for the proposed location. (More)

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➤ A camera caught a black bear trying to break into Olga’s Yodel Cinnamon Rolls in Gatlinburg, standing on its hind legs and pulling a door handle during a failed late-night snack run. (See Bear)

➤ A historical marker connected to frontiersman Daniel Boone has disappeared from Boones Creek, and local preservation leaders are asking the public to help find or replace it. (More)

➤ Knoxville third graders dressed as famous historical figures for their school’s annual “wax museum,” using research and rehearsed speeches to bring history lessons to life. (See Video)

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