Monday, August 3, 2026

Good Morning! On this day in 1754, Catherine “Bonnie Kate” Sherrill Sevier was born. Wife of Tennessee’s first governor, she made soldiers’ uniforms, cast lead balls for ammunition, and once thwarted a Tory plot to kill her husband.

Break out your finest hat and gloves: Cheekwood is bringing the Gilded Age to life in full bloom. The Nashville estate’s global flower show opened this weekend and runs through Sunday. See details below and write in to tell us about your favorite annual event in Tennessee!

Today’s sponsor, Oricle Hearing Aids, is helping readers hear more clearly without the sky-high prices—offering a tiny, easy-to-use hearing aid with clear sound and all-day power for under $100.

Tennessee Exec Accused of Stealing $32M

Taylor Fresh Foods has filed a federal lawsuit accusing Brian Thure, the former president of its Tennessee subsidiary, of orchestrating a years-long scheme that stole more than $32 million from the company.

According to the suit, Thure, who led Taylor Farms Tennessee from 2012 until March 2026, falsified vendor charges, authorized fraudulent payroll, and put relatives and personal staff on the company’s books.

The alleged fraud surfaced during a 2025 IRS audit and internal investigation. The lawsuit claims Thure funneled money through a sham company and spent stolen funds on luxury purchases, including a $5.5 million Hawaii home, a 400-acre California ranch, and a $1 million endowment at UC Berkeley.

The suit says Thure confessed on a recorded March call and later apologized to CEO Bruce Taylor. His wife and two others are named as co-conspirators, but the allegations have not been proven in court.

House Candidate Shoots License Plate Readers

A Lenoir City man and independent congressional candidate faces four felony vandalism charges after police say he shot four automated license plate reading cameras in Blount County and Maryville.

Adam Lee Heimerman, 37, listed on the Secretary of State’s site as an independent candidate for Tennessee’s 2nd District U.S. House seat, allegedly admitted to investigators that he used a gun to shoot the systems, at least one of them Flock-branded.

Police said evidence showed he accessed one camera from the property of a house of worship while congregants attended services. Heimerman is held on a $40,000 bond and is due in court on Wednesday.

The case lands amid ongoing debate in Tennessee over license plate readers and the privacy concerns they raise among residents and elected officials.

Officer Saves Veteran’s Life on Nashville Bridge

Metro Nashville Police Lt. Mike Hotz talked a veteran off the Victory Memorial Bridge above the Cumberland River on July 23, in a moment captured on body camera.

The man had been livestreaming online, saying he planned to jump. Hotz, a fellow veteran and former member of Metro’s Crisis Negotiation Team, approached gently, introduced himself, and listened as the man broke down in frustration.

Eventually, a handshake became a hug, and the man stepped away from the edge toward waiting help. “We’re here to love you,” Hotz told him.

Hotz, who developed Nashville’s ONEbox overdose-reversal program now in more than 500 locations, recently received the DEA’s Excellence in Protection Award, and hopes the moment reminds others to ask loved ones how they’re doing.

If you or someone you know is struggling, the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline offers free, confidential support 24/7 by call or text.

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➤ Nashville: A former Metro councilmember is asking city officials to investigate canvassers gathering signatures seeking to end racing at the Fairgrounds Speedway and add affordable housing. (More)

➤ Also Nashville: Heavy rain caused part of a building roof to collapse Saturday morning, drawing more than 20 fire units to a reported gas leak or explosion. No injuries were reported. (See Photo)

➤ Memphis: A pastor acquitted of wire fraud tied to $150,000 in COVID relief funds for his church has written a book. Vindicated details the ordeal and how he actually used the funds to pay musicians and keep the lights on. (More)

➤ Knoxville: The owner of Fat Head Barbershop hosted his first Young Entrepreneurship Vendor Market Saturday, giving dozens of kids booths to sell food, drinks, and goods. (More)

➤ Wilson County: Highpoint Health and Ascension Saint Thomas broke ground Friday on a freestanding emergency room, which will serve all ages. (More)

➤ Sevierville: Sevierville Golf Club opens a new covered driving range, The Eagle’s Nest, on Friday, featuring TopTracer shot-tracking, Smoky Mountain views, and ten bays available for hourly rental. (More)

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➤ Vanderbilt center Jalen Washington has been granted a fifth year of eligibility following a groundbreaking court ruling. Washington is currently in the transfer portal and has been connected to Tennessee. (More)

➤ Tennessee Titans quarterback Will Levis, once the team’s starter, told reporters in a recent interview that he is comfortable competing for the team’s backup role and still believes he is “a dang good quarterback.” (More)

➤ Memphis Grizzlies guard Javon Small held a 3-on-3 basketball tournament for kids in South Bend over the weekend. (More)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: MLB | WNBA | Soccer | Golf

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➤ Elon Musk confirmed xAI is building a fourth data center called Minihard near its existing Memphis-area sites, while its Southaven facility prepares to swap 69 gas turbines for a permanent 1.2-gigawatt plant. (More)

➤ WEHCO Media has sold the Chattanooga Times Free Press to local businessmen Craig and Max Fuller, returning the 150-year-old daily to local ownership after 27 years. (More)

➤ Back 2 The Video Store, a 90s-themed speakeasy pop-up with movie-themed cocktails and video-rental nostalgia, has opened at Sonny’s Patio Pub in Germantown. (More)

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➤ A FOX13 Memphis anchor, who is also a new mom, appeared to briefly doze off during a live broadcast. The viral clip drew thousands of comments, with many defending her as deserving a little grace. (More)

➤ Cheekwood’s global flower show returns this week with a twist: Fleurs de Villes THE GILDED AGE brings characters from the HBO drama to life through fresh floral mannequins created by Nashville designers. (See Photos)

➤ A Lenoir City woman clocked out for the final time after 73 years at the Family Brands meat processing plant, where she started in 1953 and worked nearly every role. (More)

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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:

➤ A gunman killed three people and wounded seven others at a newly opened In-N-Out Burger in Twin Falls, Idaho, before taking his own life. (Hear More)

➤ Wind-driven wildfires around Spokane, Washington, have destroyed more than 600 structures and forced tens of thousands from their homes in what the mayor calls the region’s worst natural disaster. (Listen Now)

➤ A crime network tied to Iran is recruiting European teenagers as hitmen over social media, then abandoning them when they’re caught. (Tune In)