Sunday, June 7, 2026

Good Morning! On this day in 1982, Graceland—Elvis Presley’s Memphis estate—opened its doors to the public for the first time, welcoming fans to the King’s famous home on Elvis Presley Boulevard.

Rodeo fans may want to head to East Tennessee June 12-13 for this annual rodeo sanctioned by the Southern Rodeo Association and the National Cowboy Association. Learn more in Et Cetera.

In case you missed it, this week on The Flyover Podcast, Ayla broke down a Social Security shift that quietly took effect this year, one that could permanently shrink your monthly check if you claim at the wrong time. Retirement experts say knowing your exact number before you file could mean the difference of hundreds of dollars a month for the rest of your life. Listen here.

Today’s sponsor, United States Tungsten, is highlighting a rare opportunity to invest in a critical mineral essential to industries from aerospace to electronics as the company works to revive domestic tungsten production at a historic North Carolina site.

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.

Nashville Airport Fights State Takeover

The Metro Nashville Airport Authority Board of Commissioners called a special meeting after Tennessee enacted a law vacating existing airport authority boards across the state—and the authority is now weighing a legal challenge.

The board, which oversees Nashville International Airport and serves the entire state, could vote to authorize a lawsuit arguing the law violates the Tennessee Constitution’s Home Rule Amendment.

It’s the second time Nashville’s airport governance has landed in court—a three-judge panel previously struck down a similar 2023 state takeover attempt.

The current law, signed this spring, would dissolve the sitting board and give more appointments to state officials.

Data Center Opposition Heats Up

As a follow-up to our first report last week—the Nashville Zoo is fighting a proposed data center from Atlanta-based DC Blox on adjacent South Nashville land, warning the roughly 69,000-square-foot facility could endanger its 3,000 animals, including rare clouded leopards.

Nashville Zoo President and CEO Rick Schwartz says noise and light pollution could disrupt sensitive species and breeding programs. A zoo-launched petition opposing the project has gathered more than 180,000 signatures.

DC Blox says the facility won’t be an AI factory and pledges waterless cooling and controlled noise. Mayor Freddie O’Connell and Metro’s legal department are reviewing the proposal.

The dispute reflects broader concerns over data centers’ energy, water, and environmental impacts. A council member has proposed a moratorium ahead of a Tuesday vote.

Tennessee’s World Cup Moment Begins

The 2026 FIFA World Cup’s group stage kicks off this week, and Tennessee is in the middle of it—Spain’s men’s national soccer team arrived in Chattanooga on Friday to begin World Cup preparations at Baylor School.

Spain’s national team, led by teenage star Lamine Yamal, set up its base camp at the private Chattanooga prep school, while Japan is training at Nashville SC’s facility in Middle Tennessee.

The Team Base Camp Training Sites are spread across three host countries with 39 of the 48 participating nations setting up base camps across the United States—more than any previous World Cup host. The first matches will be held on June 11 and the first U.S. group play against Paraguay will take place on June 12 at Los Angeles Stadium.

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North Carolina’s Moment in the $10 Billion Tungsten Boom

The global tungsten market is surging toward $10 billion by 2030, and a historic site in North Carolina is drawing attention as domestic minerals become a national priority.

Modern industry has no substitute for tungsten. From the precision drills that build cities to the high-heat engines that power flight, it’s the indispensable backbone of global manufacturing:

Automotive: $3T+ market
Electronics: $500B+ market
Aerospace: $800B+ market

With global prices surging 557%, the demand for a domestic source has reached a boiling point.

That’s exactly where United States Tungsten comes in. The company is working toward reopening a domestic recovery and processing facility at the Tungsten Queen, which holds approximately 1 million tons of tungsten-bearing minerals.

The opportunity is here. Lock in up to 23% bonus shares as an early-stage United States Tungsten investor before June 12.

➤ Chattanooga: The Wilson Road bridge over Chattanooga Creek closed on Thursday after a state inspection found structural deficiencies—no reopening timeline has been announced for the span connecting Tennessee and Georgia. (More)

➤ Mt. Juliet: The city’s 55+ Activity Center is moving to a new, larger home on June 15, taking over the former Mount Juliet Police Department building on Charlie Daniels Parkway. (More)

➤ Knoxville: City Council held a workshop on economic incentives for “redevelopment areas,” with the Knoxville Community Development Corporation weighing new tools to drive growth beyond downtown. (More)

➤ Memphis: The city’s 33rd annual Juneteenth Festival kicked off Friday at Medical District Park, celebrating the holiday ahead of the June 19 federal observance with music and cultural programming. (Details)

➤ Clarksville: The community is mourning Col. Tom Denney, a decorated Army veteran and longtime local business leader who passed away June 3 at age 90. (More)

➤ Murfreesboro: Construction is progressing on Tennessee’s fourth Buc-ee’s location, with a fall 2026 opening on track for the mega travel center on the rapidly growing Nashville-to-Chattanooga corridor. (More)

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➤ Four-star tight end recruit Malik Howard has announced he is committing to Tennessee, choosing the university over Alabama, Notre Dame, and Oregon. (More)

➤ The Nashville Predators hired former Los Angeles Kings general manager and Hockey Hall of Famer Rob Blake as the team’s new Executive Vice President of Hockey Operations on Friday. (More)

➤ Tennessee Titans new receiver Wan’dale Robinson recently revealed that he is choosing to wear the No. 4 jersey next season to honor his late friend Rondale Moore, who wore the same jersey for the Arizona Cardinals. (More)

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This Metal Has Already Jumped 557%

Tungsten powers everything from aerospace to EVs. That’s why it’s projected to be a $10 billion industry by 2030, and one company is positioning itself to transform the domestic tungsten supply chain.

United States Tungsten is working to reopen a domestic recovery and processing facility through the Tungsten Queen, which holds approximately 1 million tons of tungsten. Demand is expected to surge as the U.S. rebuilds its domestic mineral supply. With critical mineral legislation accelerating and defense budgets rising, domestic suppliers have a unique opportunity to lead the market. United States Tungsten is already in talks with the government about supply contracts.

You can now invest in United States Tungsten and lock in up to 23% bonus shares before June 12.

This is a paid advertisement for United States Tungsten Corp. Regulation CF offering. Please read the offering circular at https://invest.unitedstatestungsten.com/

➤ Tennessee Riverkeeper volunteers pulled nearly 2,000 pounds of litter and debris from the Tennessee River watershed last week, the latest milestone in an ongoing effort to clean up the state’s namesake waterway. (More)

➤ Elizabethton’s Championship Rodeo rides into East Tennessee June 12-13 at Evening Breeze Arena in Carter County. Rodeo fans will enjoy barrel racing, bull riding, roping, saddle bronc riding, and more. General admission tickets are $20, kids ages 6-10 are $15 and kids 5 and under are free. (Details)

➤ Black bears are showing up in Middle Tennessee backyards at an increasing rate—sightings have been reported in Hickman, Dickson, Wilson, and Sumner counties as the state’s thriving bear population expands westward. (See Video)

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