Thursday, May 15, 2025

Good Morning! On this day in 2009, a series of severe tornadoes and floods that ravaged Benton, McMinn, Rutherford, and Sequatchie Counties was federally declared a major disaster.

What better way to start the morning than by watching the 2-year-old son of Nashville native Mookie Betts throw the first pitch at Tuesday’s Dodgers game? See the adorable moment in the story below.

Today, we’re sponsored by Mode Mobile, offering a pre-IPO investment opportunity in cell phone technology that is changing the game.

Have you listened to our national The Flyover Podcast yet? New episodes drop daily. It’s your daily companion for the top national headlines shaping the country. Watch on YouTube or listen on Spotify and Apple Podcasts, all in under 15 minutes.

Guard Drill Simulates Major Quake

More than 30 agencies, led by the Tennessee National Guard and TEMA, are running a full-scale disaster response exercise in Davidson County this week.

The multi-agency drill, part of “Vigilant Guard 2025,” simulates a 7.5-magnitude earthquake along the New Madrid Seismic Zone and includes a river bridging operation Friday at Cleece’s Ferry.

The goal of this and other drills across the state, including the first to occur in Memphis since 2007, is to sharpen coordination between local, state, and federal responders.

Nashville residents may notice increased military presence, including flyovers by the MQ-9 “Reaper” drone for aerial damage assessments.

Overdose Deaths Hit Record High

Tennessee reported its highest-ever annual drug overdose death count in 2022, with 3,825 deaths, according to a new study.

From 2018 to 2022, the state averaged 2,917 overdose deaths annually, ranking third in the nation with a mortality rate of 42.2 deaths per 100,000 residents. That’s 53% higher than the national average.

Experts point to the opioid crisis, particularly fentanyl, along with poor access to healthcare and rural challenges, as key drivers of the deadly trend.

Pet Owners Warned About Screwworms

Tennessee’s State Veterinarian has issued an alert for the New World Screwworm, a parasitic fly that eats the live tissue of animals and can cause painful, fast-spreading infections in wounds.

The pest had been eradicated from the U.S. but is reemerging, prompting the USDA to halt livestock imports at southern border ports.

Livestock and pet owners are urged to inspect animals for worsening wounds, maggots, or behavioral changes.

Early detection is key, as the pest can affect everything from cattle to household pets—and in rare cases, even humans.

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Apple’s Loss—Mode Mobile’s Gain

Apple’s 2024 iPhone shipments dipped as its AI push fell flat, with Mark Zuckerberg and Elon Musk criticizing the company for lacking innovation.

But while incumbents fail to impress, a new player is shaking up the smartphone industry — not with AI hype, but with real earnings for users.

Mode Mobile is completely changing smartphones, giving people the ability to earn income from the phones they already own. Their 45M+ users have already pocketed a staggering $325M+, and they were named the fastest-growing software company in 2023 by Deloitte.

With their Nasdaq ticker $MODE secured, you can still invest in their pre-IPO offering at $0.30/share.

Invest in the next disruption to smartphones and earn up to 100% bonus shares.

➤ Statewide: Severe weather is forecast to return to Tennessee on Friday, with warnings of strong storms and multiple tornadoes, possibly reaching EF2 intensity or higher. (See Forecast)

➤ Also statewide: A proposed hike in FEMA’s disaster aid threshold would’ve cost Tennessee $468 million in lost assistance from 2008 to 2024, according to a new study, shifting more recovery costs to state and local governments. (See Study)

➤ Williamson County: County commissioners unanimously backed a resolution urging state and federal prioritization to widen I-65 between Bear Creek Pike and I-840, aiming to ease traffic bottlenecks. (More)

➤ Dickson County: A local elderly woman lost $40,000 in a PayPal scam after downloading a remote access app, leading to a sheriff’s sting operation, one arrest, and an ongoing international investigation. (More)

➤ Brownsville: The state’s Unclaimed Property Division will stop at the Exit 56 Blues Festival in Brownsville on May 24–25 to help residents recover forgotten funds as part of a statewide outreach effort. (See Details)

➤ Shelby County: The sheriff’s office is hiring 335 correctional deputies amid staffing shortages and inmate deaths, offering over $48,000 starting pay, a $5,000 bonus, and other benefits to help ease staffing shortages and improve jail safety. (More)

➤ Tennessee football extended scholarship offers to West High linebacker JP Peace—grandson of former coach Phillip Fulmer and son of ex-Vols linebacker Robert Peace—and Bearden High safety Kenneth Simon II. (More)

➤ In other Vols news, Tennessee will host its Checker Neyland game on Sept. 13 for the SEC opener against Georgia, with stadium sections designated orange or white to create a checkerboard pattern. (More)

➤ Nashville native and Los Angeles Dodgers star Mookie Betts’ 2-year-old son threw out the ceremonial first pitch Tuesday on Mookie Betts Bobblehead Night, creating a special moment before his dad took the field. (See Pitch)

➤ Yesterday’s results: MLB | NBA | NHL | Soccer

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➤ Nissan announced plans to cut 11,000 jobs and close seven plants after an 88% profit drop, but said its Smyrna plant remains strategically important and could see increased production. (More)

➤ Tennessee ranked 9th in U.S. commercial construction spending in 2023 with over $14 billion invested, driven by growth in manufacturing, warehouses, and clean energy projects. (See Details)

➤ Hamilton County commissioners are set to vote in June on the revised “Plan Hamilton,” a development plan drawing criticism from both supporters and opponents of increased housing. (More)

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This tech company grew 32,481%…

No, it’s not Nvidia… It’s Mode Mobile, 2023’s fastest-growing software company according to Deloitte.⁴

Just as Uber turned vehicles into income-generating assets, Mode is turning smartphones into an easy passive income source, already helping 45M+ users earn $325M+ through simple, everyday use.

They’ve just been granted their stock ticker by the Nasdaq, and you can still invest in their pre-IPO¹ offering at just $0.30/share.⁵

➤ Vested Interest in K9s donated bullet- and stab-resistant body armor vests to Clarksville Police K9s Rizzo, Drako, Chase, Joker, and Riggs in memory of fallen K9 officer King. (See Photo)

➤ In other canine news, Smoky Mountain Service Dogs, an East Tennessee nonprofit, announced plans to expand its outreach by pairing more servicemembers with trained service dogs to support those dealing with post-traumatic stress. (See Video)

➤ Blount County high school seniors accepted dozens of job offers in trades, healthcare, and the military on “Job Signing Day,” highlighting a push to keep young talent local and career-ready after graduation. (More)

Flying together with our sponsor

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What Tennessee souvenir are you most likely to gift?

Previous Results:

How do you pronounce “Appalachian”?

App-uh-LAY-shun: 28%
App-uh-LATCH-un: 26%
Either: 17%
Other: 15%
I avoid saying it: 15%

Which 1999 Tom Hanks movie was filmed in various locations in Tennessee, including Shelbyville and Columbia?

Show me the answer

*Mode Mobile recently received its ticker reservation with Nasdaq ($MODE), indicating an intent to IPO in the next 24 months. An intent to IPO is no guarantee that an actual IPO will occur. *The Deloitte rankings are based on submitted applications and public company database research, with winners selected based on their fiscal-year revenue growth percentage over a three-year period. *Please read the offering circular and related risks at invest.modemobile.com. Rainmaker Ad Ventures is paid by Mode Mobile to promote its securities offering. Payment is in cash and billed monthly. As of the end of April, Rainmaker has received $211,312.5. Additional fees may have accrued since then. 1 Mode Mobile recently received its ticker reservation with Nasdaq ($MODE), indicating an intent to IPO in the next 24 months. An intent to IPO is no guarantee that an actual IPO will occur. 4 The Deloitte rankings are based on submitted applications and public company database research, with winners selected based on their fiscal-year revenue growth percentage over a three-year period. 5 Minimum investment is $999.96. Please read the offering circular and related risks at invest.modemobile.com. This is a paid advertisement for Mode Mobile’s Regulation A+ Offering.

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Thursday, May 15, 2025

Thursday, May 15, 2025

Guard Drill Simulates Major Quake

Overdose Deaths Hit Record High

Pet Owners Warned About Screwworms

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.