Monday, October 5, 2026

Good Morning! On this day in 1925, Nashville’s WSM radio signed on for the first time. Less than two months later, the station launched the show that became the Grand Ole Opry.

Dreaming of fresh powder this winter? A new nonstop flight out of Nashville just made the slopes a lot easier to reach. What’s your favorite winter getaway, near or far? Hit reply and tell us.

Remember the traditions you used to keep and somehow just stopped? Maybe not since you were a kid. A lot of the ones we grew up with are quietly slipping away, and the numbers on how far each has fallen are steeper than you’d expect. Which Sunday tradition did families once build the whole week around? And why are so few grooms asking their bride’s father for permission anymore? In the latest episode of Flyover Focus, we count down 10 American traditions that are fading, ending with the one you could still bring back before the month is out. Tune in here!

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Officials Warn of Kratom in ‘Cat’s Claw’

A Tennessee sheriff’s office is urging parents to talk with their kids about products sold as Cat’s Claw, which officials say can contain illegal kratom.

The TBI says it has seen 18 cases since July in which tablets labeled as Cat’s Claw, a legal South American vine, were laced with MGM-15, a kratom-derived compound.

Kratom has been illegal in Tennessee since July 1 under Matthew Davenport’s Law, named for a 27-year-old Chattanooga man who died in 2024 after taking it with his prescribed medication.

Selling kratom is a Class C felony that can carry three to six years in prison, and the TBI is warning shoppers and store owners not to trust packaging alone.

State Adds 8 Homeland Security Agents

Eight new Tennessee Office of Homeland Security special agents received their badges at a ceremony at the State Capitol, bringing more than 200 years of combined experience.

The program, launched in 2023 with funding from Gov. Bill Lee and the legislature, reached its goal of placing a special agent in all 95 counties in November 2024.

Agents are trained to identify and monitor threats and share information among local police, schools, and mental health providers, with school safety a major focus.

The Office of Homeland Security was created after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks and is part of the state Department of Safety and Homeland Security.

College Enrollment Climbs Statewide

Tennessee’s public colleges and universities enrolled 228,352 students this fall, up 2,933 students, or 1.3%, from last year, according to the Tennessee Higher Education Commission.

First-time freshman enrollment rose 3.9% to 41,310 students, driving much of the statewide increase.

Tennessee State University posted the biggest gain among public universities, with overall enrollment up 17.2% and its freshman class growing from 435 to 1,758 students.

Community college enrollment grew 1.9% to 80,042 students, led by a 9% jump at Nashville State Community College, while university enrollment rose 1%.

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➤ Nashville: Christa Pike remains unconscious and on a ventilator at a hospital after Wednesday’s failed execution, according to Sunday reports. (More)

➤ Johnson County: One person died, and several were hurt Friday night in a crash involving a school bus carrying Abingdon High School students. (More)

➤ La Vergne: Police took a 59-year-old man into protective custody after he barricaded himself in a vehicle at a Pilot gas station. He’s hospitalized in critical but stable condition. (More)

➤ Cheatham County: A Lamborghini driver survived after crashing his car into a gas pump, sending the vehicle up in flames. (See Photos)

➤ Bristol: The Slammedenuff car show brought custom and exotic cars to Bristol Motor Speedway for two days over the weekend. (See Cars)

➤ Memphis: Youth Villages’ 44th annual YV5K raised more than $118,000 for its Chris Crye Mentoring Program, which pairs young people with adult role models. (See Details)

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➤ The Tennessee Titans fell 24-18 to the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday in Derrick Henry’s first game against his former team since leaving in 2024. The Titans are 6-32 since Henry’s departure. (More)

➤ The Nashville Predators bounced back from their season-opening loss by defeating the Dallas Stars 2-1 over the weekend for their first win of the young season. (More)

➤ Tennessee football now sits at No. 15 in this week’s AP poll after last week’s win over Auburn. (See poll)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: NFL | MLB | NHL | WNBA | NBA | Soccer | Golf | NASCAR | F1

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➤ Ten American traditions are quietly disappearing, and you’ve probably let a few of them go without ever noticing. (Tune in here)

In the latest episode of Flyover Focus, we run through 10 American traditions on their way out and just how far gone they are. From the midnight movie premieres people used to line up for to the paper that showed up on your porch every morning. And you can still bring back the one in our No. 1 spot.

In case you missed it, last week on Flyover Focus, we broke down the 10 things to buy before you retire, so tune in here.

➤ Waymo and Lyft will open an 80,000-square-foot maintenance and charging hub for hundreds of self-driving cars near Nashville’s airport next Monday, creating 70-plus jobs. (More)

➤ BWE arranged $42.5 million in refinancing for Nashville’s historic Baggage Building, a mixed-use office and retail property in the city’s urban core. (See Details)

➤ Chattanooga’s Julie Darling Donuts has closed its North Shore shop after 16 years in business. (More)

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➤ A West Tennessee Vietnam veteran was presented with the Bronze Star with Valor, finally receiving the recognition he earned more than 50 years ago. (See Story)

➤ Baby copperhead season has arrived in Tennessee, and residents are advised to watch for their bright yellow-green tail tips, which help identify the hard-to-spot young snakes. (Stay Safe)

➤ Southwest has launched nonstop flights from Nashville to Reno-Tahoe, giving Music City travelers a direct route to Lake Tahoe’s ski slopes. (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.

➤ Canada’s prime minister admitted his government has war-gamed an American invasion, and the military’s own model says how long the country would last. (Hear Plan)

➤ Some college freshmen are packing up and heading home just weeks into their first semester, and they say they still want the degree. (Hear Why)

➤ An Iowa substitute teacher offered her students extra credit for donating to her personal GoFundMe. (Listen Now)