Monday, May 12, 2025

Good Morning! On this day in 1863, Union gunboats attacked Confederate forces in Linden, ferrying cavalry across the Tennessee River to stage a successful surprise attack.

The Nashville Zoo celebrated Mother’s Day with the new addition of its first southern pudu fawn—the smallest species of deer in the world. Catch a glimpse of the baby pudu in the story below to put a smile on your face.

If you’re already paying for Amazon Prime, be sure to check out these 9 perks you should be using, courtesy of today’s sponsor, Brad’s Deals.

Have you listened to our national The Flyover Podcast yet? New episodes drop daily. It’s your daily companion for the top national headlines shaping the country. Watch on YouTube or listen on Spotify and Apple Podcasts, all in under 15 minutes.

UT Loses $37M in Federal Research Cuts

The University of Tennessee System lost $37.65 million in federal grant funding after the Trump administration terminated 42 research projects, including 25 at its flagship Knoxville campus.

The cuts affect multiple UT campuses and departments, including UT’s Health Science Center and Institute of Agriculture, with projects halted across agencies like the USDA, NIH, and NSF.

The cuts follow a wave of “stop work” orders that escalated early in President Trump’s second term, stalling some research efforts for the time being.

University leaders are working to support affected staff and students while upholding their core educational mission amid shifting funding challenges.

Earthquake Shakes Tennessee

A 4.1-magnitude earthquake shook East Tennessee just after 9 a.m. on May 10, with tremors felt as far as Atlanta, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

The quake, centered in Blount County, caused no reported injuries or major damage, though agencies like TDOT and the TVA conducted inspections as a precaution.

A brief gas leak was reported in West Knox County, and a portion of Foothills Parkway was temporarily closed but reopened after engineers found no structural issues.

The USGS estimates a 23% chance of an aftershock in the next week, likely smaller in magnitude but still strong enough to be felt locally and require monitoring.

Dollywood’s Award-Winning Anniversary Year

Dollywood added to its 40th anniversary celebration by sweeping several categories in Newsweek’s Readers’ Choice Awards.

The Pigeon Forge park took top honors for Best Theme Park Live Show with From the Heart—The Life and Music of Dolly Parton, while three of its restaurants ranked in the top four nationally.

Dollywood also placed second for Best Overall Theme Park and fifth for Best Outdoor Water Park.

The milestone year has seen the park land spots on Forbes’ Best Midsize Employers list and USA Today’s Top Workplaces USA, reinforcing its reputation as a standout Southern destination for both guests and employees.

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➤ Hamilton County: Gov. Lee appointed Jennifer Peck—former Chief of Staff at the Department of Commerce and Insurance and a Regent Law graduate—to the 11th Judicial District Circuit Court, filling the seat vacated by Judge Michael Dumitru. (More)

➤ Nashville: Officials confirmed construction on long-delayed new bike lanes will begin within a year, adding protected routes downtown and through East Nashville to improve East Bank connectivity. (More)

➤ Oak Ridge: Kairos Power poured its first nuclear-grade concrete for the Hermes demonstration reactor, marking the official start of construction on the first NRC-permitted Generation IV molten salt reactor in the U.S. (See Photos)

➤ Bristol: The city secured $1 million in state funding for a new public skate park, with officials now developing a master plan and scouting locations for the regional facility. (More)

➤ Sevier County: A new $5 million animal shelter opened with triple the space, improved disease control, and expanded care, leading to fewer illnesses and euthanizations, officials said. (See Photos)

➤ Clarksville: Suspected thieves broke into a transportation lot Wednesday, stealing Common Powertrain Controllers—the central computing units in large commercial vehicles—from four semi-trucks, causing $20,000 in damages and transport delays. (See Photo)

➤ The No. 4 Tennessee Volunteers women’s rowing team won three gold medals and placed second overall at the inaugural SEC Championship on Melton Hill Lake in Oak Ridge on Sunday. (More)

➤ The No. 10 Vanderbilt Commodores defeated No. 12 Tennessee 7-5 in Sunday’s series finale, securing their first series win over the Volunteers since 2021. (More)

➤ Former Lady Vols soccer star Bunny Shaw earned the Golden Boot for a second straight year, finishing as the top scorer in English professional soccer after a standout 2024–25 season with Manchester City. (More)

➤ Yesterday’s results: NASCAR | MLB | NBA | NHL | NCAAB | NCAASB | Soccer | PGA | LPGA

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➤ Wisconsin-based Greenheck Group broke ground on a new manufacturing facility in Knox County, pledging 440 high-paying jobs and $5 million in donations to local high schools. (More)

➤ Breeze Airways began service at Memphis International on May 7, offering flights to Tampa, Raleigh-Durham, Providence, and Pensacola, with fares starting as low as $39 one-way. (See Details)

➤ Pigeon Forge experienced a $20 million tourism drop in March, with officials attributing the 10% decline to economic strain, inflation, and later spring breaks. (More)

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➤ Memphis Central High’s jazz band placed in the Top 3 at the Essentially Ellington competition in New York, earning praise for their performance at the international jazz event. (More)

➤ A retired Army veteran has launched Ken’s Hot Dog Shack, a mobile stand in Murfreesboro, fulfilling a longtime dream and turning it into a full-time passion. (See Shack)

➤ The Nashville Zoo announced the birth of its first baby southern pudu—the world’s smallest deer—on April 28, calling it the “sweetest gift” for Mother’s Day. (See Pudu)

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