Thursday, June 19, 2025

Good Morning! On this day in 2020, Gov. Bill Lee signed a proclamation recognizing Juneteenth in Tennessee—a year before it became a federal holiday.

Looking for spicier-than-usual entertainment? Tennessee’s first sanctioned bare knuckle boxing match is set for Saturday and will stream live on VICE. See the story below for more details.

We’re sponsored today by Infinity Fuel, which offers an investment opportunity in fuel systems making space travel possible.

Don’t feel like reading the national edition of The Flyover? Tune in to The Flyover Podcast! New episodes drop daily—watch on YouTube or listen on Spotify and Apple Podcasts, all in under 15 minutes.

SCOTUS Backs TN Trans Youth Medical Ban

The U.S. Supreme Court upheld Tennessee’s ban on transgender medical procedures for minors in a 6–3 decision Wednesday, reinforcing similar laws already enacted in 24 other states.

The Court’s conservative majority ruled the law doesn’t violate the 14th Amendment’s Equal Protection Clause, contrary to dissent from liberal justices who argue it targets transgender youth unfairly.

The decision means bans on puberty blockers, hormone therapy, and surgery for minors will likely stand in those states, while others without bans remain unaffected.

12 Inmates Indicted in Trousdale Prison Riot

A grand jury indicted 12 inmates for their roles in a violent riot at Trousdale Turner Correctional Center, Tennessee’s largest prison, on June 8.

The facility, operated by private contractor CoreCivic, which is currently under DOJ investigation, saw inmates assault a guard, start fires, and refuse orders, prompting a response from state troopers and local deputies.

Charges include aggravated riot, assault, kidnapping, and more, with officials expecting further indictments as video reviews continue.

Trousdale County’s DA has called for leadership changes at the facility amid growing scrutiny.

TN Schools to Enforce Stricter Phone Rules

All Tennessee public and charter schools must adopt tougher rules on student cell phone use under a new state law beginning July 1.

Schools are required to implement policies allowing teachers to confiscate phones that cause classroom distractions.

The law bans phone use during class time but makes exceptions for educational use, emergencies, health needs, and students with IEPs or 504 plans.

The new rules also require schools to ensure parents can be contacted in emergencies, aiming to balance discipline with safety and accessibility.

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NASA and the Navy have an energy problem

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➤ Statewide: Tennessee officials are considering reclassifying single-family rental homes as commercial property, raising their tax rate from 25% to 40%—a move critics warn could drive up rent for tenants and conflict with state law. (More)

➤ Memphis: The NAACP is suing Elon Musk’s xAI over air pollution from its supercomputer facility, accusing it of operating dozens of gas turbines without proper permits near Black neighborhoods. (More)

➤ Nashville: Tennessee State University reached a deal with the state to receive $96 million for operations and $55 million for infrastructure over the next three years, aiming to stabilize finances and enhance student services. (More)

➤ Hawkins County: Residents confronted NewEarth Nation leaders Tuesday over ongoing plans to establish a “sovereign micronation” on a 60-acre property, voicing concerns about community impact and long-term intentions. (More)

➤ McMinn County: A fire broke out late Monday at a vacant building near the former Bowater plant, now used for storage. Crews battled the blaze overnight using over 3,000 feet of hose, and despite the total loss of the structure, no injuries were reported. (See Photos)

➤ Chattanooga: The Tennessee Aquarium, joined by Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom, hosted a river cleanup at Renaissance Park to spotlight plastic pollution and promote waterway conservation, with a marine debris sculpture on display through July 6. (More)

➤ Tennessee basketball’s Zakai Zeigler is appealing a court decision denying him a fifth year of eligibility, arguing that NCAA rules violate antitrust law by limiting his NIL earning potential. (More)

➤ The TSSAA Board of Control officially sanctioned flag football as a high school sport in the state of Tennessee, lifting its status as an “emerging sport.” (More)

➤ NIL collective directors from Ole Miss, Tennessee, and South Carolina spent several days in Washington, D.C., discussing the newly approved House settlement’s effects on the college sports marketplace. (More)

➤ Yesterday’s results: MLB | WNBA | NCAAB | Soccer

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➤ Nashville-based Leap Partners has acquired Scenic City Plumbing of Chattanooga, adding to its fast-growing portfolio of HVAC, plumbing, and electrical firms across the Southeast. (More)

➤ Howmet Aerospace is expanding its Morristown facility for the second time this year, adding 217 jobs to the previously announced 50, growing its workforce to over 1,000 as it produces jet engines. (More)

➤ Six inmates at McMinn County Justice Center completed a Cleveland State Community College HVAC program, earning an EPA certification through a $1 million state-funded initiative to reduce recidivism. (More)

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NASA Turns to Hydrogen Fuel Cells for Deep Space Power

Batteries can’t survive the 14+ day lunar night or keep underwater drones running for weeks. That’s why NASA and the U.S. Navy are turning to Infinity Fuel.

Infinity’s regenerative hydrogen fuel cells are designed to deliver long-duration power where traditional systems fail—in areas without oxygen, too cold for normal batteries to survive. These fuel cells have already flown aboard Blue Origin (Jeff Bezos’ company) and are now being built for critical lunar and underwater missions.

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➤ GiGi’s Playhouse has opened in Knoxville, offering a facility with free educational and therapeutic programs for individuals with Down syndrome from infancy to adulthood. (More)

➤ Tennessee’s first sanctioned bare knuckle boxing event, the “Music City Brawl,” will take place Saturday at The Pinnacle in Nashville, starting at 6 p.m. CT and streaming live on VICE. (See Details)

➤ State lawmakers met with Middle Tennessee scouts at the Roy Grindstaff Skilled Trades Center in Lebanon on Tuesday to discuss expanding the center beyond its current focus on scouts. (More)

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Would you plant milkweed for the monarch butterflies?

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I’ll try: 27%
Other: 23%
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Thursday, June 19, 2025

Thursday, June 19, 2025

SCOTUS Backs TN Trans Youth Medical Ban

12 Inmates Indicted in Trousdale Prison Riot

TN Schools to Enforce Stricter Phone Rules

One Email. All The Tennessee News.

Get Informed About The Volunteer State In 5 Minutes.

One Email. All The Tennessee News.

Get Informed About The Volunteer State In 5 Minutes.