The Tennessee Flyover

Saturday, July 4, 2026

Happy Independence Day! On this day in 1845, the cornerstone of the Tennessee State Capitol was laid in Nashville. Architect William Strickland considered the building his masterpiece and is buried in its north facade.

As our nation commemorates its 250th birthday this weekend, we’ll be sending out shortened editions through Monday, so The Tennessee Flyover staff can celebrate the holiday with friends and family. Our regular edition will return on Tuesday. Have a safe and happy Fourth of July weekend!

Are you the one setting off fireworks, or the one lying awake wishing they’d stop? Somewhere on your street tonight, someone’s going till midnight while the dog shakes under the bed and half the block wonders if they’re the only ones who’ve had enough. Fireworks are the sound of the Fourth, the whole country looking up at once. But they’re also sparking wildfire fears, veterans bracing at every crack, and thousands of ER visits a year. So are they worth it? Tune in to today’s Flyover Podcast as Amy shares both sides of the story. Which side are you on? Tune in here!

If shedding extra pounds and feeling your best this summer is on your agenda, today’s sponsor, Direct Meds, is offering $150 off your first order of doctor-supervised GLP-1 weight-loss treatment delivered right to your door.

Swift, Kelce Give Dolly $2 Million

Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce donated $2 million to Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, Parton announced in a video Friday morning.

Thank you, thank you, thank you. “I’m blown away and overjoyed with that gratitude,” Parton said, before joking that the couple could send their firstborn her way.

It’s part of the $26 million the pair gave to 20 charities this week ahead of their reported wedding Friday at Madison Square Garden.

Parton’s library mails free books to children from birth to age 5 and counts nearly 3.2 million kids enrolled. She closed by singing a line of I Will Always Love You.

Heat and Storms Greet Tennessee’s Fourth

Tennesseans will celebrate the Fourth in sweltering conditions, with heat advisories in effect through this evening, highs in the 90s, and scattered afternoon storms possible.

Feels-like temperatures in the Mid-South were forecast between 105 and 109 degrees on Friday, and Memphis forecasters expect hot, humid conditions with spotty storms through the weekend. Middle Tennessee carries a marginal severe-storm risk today.

The holiday rush is on regardless, with countless events planned across the Tri-Cities in some of the region’s hottest summer heat in years. Temperatures back off slightly early next week, though humidity sticks around.

Sweetwater Buys Its Own High School

Sweetwater City Schools purchased Sweetwater High School from Monroe County Schools for $2.5 million, a deal officials call the first of its kind in Tennessee.

The sale closed this week after county commissioners approved the transfer earlier this year, letting the district serve students from pre-K through 12th grade for the first time.

The city system previously stopped at eighth grade, and a county board member valued the building at roughly $10 million.

All of the high school’s roughly 60 teachers stayed on, and the district’s director says the focus now shifts to expanding scholarship opportunities for students.

Flying together with our sponsor

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➤ Statewide: TWRA is increasing patrols on Tennessee waterways through Sunday during Operation Dry Water, a nationwide holiday weekend crackdown on boating under the influence. (More)

➤ Statewide: Gov. Bill Lee released a video recapping his yearlong America 250 tour, which took him and first lady Maria Lee to all 95 Tennessee counties before concluding in Van Buren County. (More)

➤ Nashville: More than 100,000 purple martins have returned downtown for their annual pre-migration roost, prompting officials to urge visitors not to disturb the birds before they depart for South America. (More)

➤ Chattanooga: Nashville-based Hattie B’s Hot Chicken will open its first Chattanooga restaurant this fall, taking over the former Food Works space at Signal Knitting Mills on the North Shore. (More)

➤ Union County: Norris Bros. Excavating must pay $210,000 after state investigators found safety violations contributed to a trench collapse at Big Ridge State Park that killed one worker and seriously injured another. (More)

➤ Memphis: Recent data indicate Memphis is continuing to make progress against violent crime, with homicides down 45% from the same period last year and nonfatal shootings falling 30% since 2023. (See Data)

Flying together with our sponsor

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Flying together with our sponsor

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What is your favorite Independence Day activity?

Previous Results:

Do you think the state should take over Memphis-Shelby County Schools?

Definitely: 35%
I have no idea: 27%
Maybe: 21%
No way: 17%

The following stories are featured exclusively on The Flyover Podcast—a daily show that gives you the most important headlines in under 15 minutes, straight from the heart of the country. Clicking the link will take you directly to these stories:

➤ As America turns 250, its most beloved holiday tradition is facing growing pushback from cities, neighbors, and fire officials alike. (Hear More)

➤ Federal regulators want to pay hospitals less for routine imaging, escalating a long-running payment fight. (Listen Now)

➤ You could see radiation-detecting aircraft and drone-takeover technology overhead this weekend, as security for the nation’s 250th birthday hits the highest level. (Podcast Available)