Thursday, February 20, 2025

Good Morning! On this day in 2015, a historic ice storm hit many parts of the state, especially the areas east of Nashville on the Cumberland Plateau. Tens of thousands of residents lost power, and millions of dollars in damage were caused to power lines and the utility system.

If you haven’t heard, there’s big news in Nashville: Former Tennessee Titans quarterback Zach Mettenberger has been named head coach of Nashville’s Father Ryan High School. You can check out the video in the Top Stories below.

We’re sponsored today by the nonprofit World Concern, offering an opportunity to help children in need in Somalia.

Winter Storm Leads to Crashes, Closures

Winter storms brought several inches of snow across Tennessee on Tuesday night and Wednesday, leading to numerous accidents and closures. See photos here.

Clarksville officials called for motorists to stay off of the roads as they responded to 61 crashes where property was damaged and 40 incidents where motorists needed assistance overnight Tuesday.

Numerous flights were canceled and delayed at Nashville International Airport due to winter weather and problems at connecting airports.

Many schools across the state were closed or delayed on Wednesday, including some college campuses. Here’s a list.

Memphis Walmart Shootout

The Memphis Police Department is investigating a Tuesday shooting at the Walmart on Austin Peay Highway that left one man in critical condition.

Officers responded to the scene and found a man with a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the leg. According to MPD, the shooting stemmed from a disagreement between two men.

The injured man was transported to a nearby hospital in critical condition, and both men involved in the disagreement have reportedly been detained.

Ex-Titans Quarterback Named Nashville High School Coach

Former Tennessee Titans quarterback Zach Mettenberger has been named Father Ryan High School’s new head football coach, becoming the 14th head coach in the school’s 100-year history.

Since 2024, he has served as Father Ryan’s offensive coordinator, quarterbacks coach, and assistant strength and conditioning coach, following his tenure as an analyst and assistant at the University of Alabama under Nick Saban.

A former LSU quarterback and two-time team captain, Mettenberger was selected by the Tennessee Titans in the 2014 NFL Draft, playing two seasons with the franchise and one with the Pittsburgh Steelers, starting in 10 professional games and appearing in four others.

Mettenberger also competed in alternative football leagues, including the AAF, The Spring League, USFL, and XFL.

Flying together with our sponsor

Somalia is facing a devastating combination of natural disasters, global conflicts, widespread poverty, and disease outbreaks. East Africa has just endured its worst drought in 40 years, leaving tens of millions without access to clean water, wiping out millions of livestock, and destroying crops. With domestic food production crippled, Somalia has relied heavily on imports—90% of its wheat coming from Russia and Ukraine—until those shipments stopped.

Now, two in five children in Somalia suffer from acute malnutrition, and cholera is spreading in some regions. The food crisis, compounded by global humanitarian aid being redirected to Europe and the Middle East, has created a perfect storm, leading to a sharp rise in child malnutrition.

Be Doers.

We’re asking The Tennessee Flyover community to join us in partnering with World Concern to help get emergency nutrition packs (a peanut paste fortified with nutrients), water, and hygiene products to those with the most need.

➤ Clarksville: Four days after heavy rainfall blanketed the area, Gov. Bill Lee visited multiple neighborhoods to assess flood damage from last weekend’s storms. (Watch Video)

➤ Knoxville: The Tennessee Valley Authority said that three of its nuclear reactors—at Browns Ferry, Sequoyah, and Watts Bar—went offline recently due to electrical issues. (More)

➤ Memphis: A federal judge on Tuesday denied a motion by former Sen. Brian Kelsey to stay out of prison while the court considered a request to vacate his sentence on five counts of campaign violations in 2016. (More)

➤ Nashville: Two 12-year-old students at Madison Middle School were charged this week after police were alerted to online threats in which they made alarming statements about “shooting up” the school. One of them posted a photo with several guns, including what appeared to be an AK-47. (More)

➤ Vonore: The TBI is investigating a Monday shootout between a suspect and deputies who were serving a warrant, which led to one deputy being treated for injuries. (More)

➤ Chattanooga: Southern Adventist University confirmed that city mayoral candidate Chris Long attended the school but never graduated, despite his recent claims. (More)

➤ University of Memphis softball pitcher Rylee Dugar recorded the school’s 14th no-hitter in the school’s history as the team defeated Mississippi Valley State 8-0 in the first game of a doubleheader on Tuesday. (More)

➤ NASCAR star Kyle Busch is coming to Nashville on May 30 to compete in the Rackley Roofing 200 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race. (More)

➤ The University of Tennessee swimming and diving teams brought home four medals, including two golds, and broke two school records to open the 2025 SEC Championships on Tuesday. (More)

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➤ Tennessee State parks generated nearly $2 billion for the Tennessee economy in 2024, supporting 13,587 jobs and contributing $1.1 billion to gross domestic product, according to a recent analysis. (See Details)

➤ The Memphis City Council approved selling land to Elon Musk’s xAI to build a water recycling facility that will cool its Colossus supercomputer and serve two nearby industries. (More)

➤ The Kingsport Board of Mayor and Aldermen agreed to put $250,000 toward recruiting new services to the Tri-Cities Airport in Kingsport after a previous deal was not approved. (More)

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➤ 11 Things Smart Americans Are Wasting Money On. You’re smart about saving money, like shopping clearance racks, limiting eating out, and choosing affordable streaming services. However, there are still some cost-cutting tips you might not know yet. Once you discover these, you could quickly find extra cash in your pocket. (Read More)

Flying together with our sponsor

Somalia faces a crisis caused by natural disasters, conflict, poverty, and disease. The worst drought in 40 years devastated crops and livestock, while food imports from Russia and Ukraine were halted. Two in five Somali children now suffer from acute malnutrition. Join us in partnering with World Concern to provide emergency nutrition packs and clean water to children. $12 feeds a child for a month.

➤ Tusculum University students recently visited Bridgestone Arena for a behind-the-scenes look at the Nashville Predators. (See Photos)

➤ A relief team from Pennsylvania helped a Washington County farmer rebuild after damage from Hurricane Helene. (Watch Video)

➤ The views from the Gatlinburg Skypark’s live webcam offer an amazing look at recent snowfall in the Smoky Mountains. (Watch Live)

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