Thursday, May 8, 2025

Good Morning! On this day in 1541, Spanish conquistador Hernando De Soto reached the Mississippi River just south of present-day Memphis, making history as one of the first Europeans to visit that location.

Don’t worry, you’re not just hearing things—that high-pitched buzz is the sweet sound of Brood XIV cicadas emerging from their underground burrows just in time for summer. Read more about these noisy critters in the story below.

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State Pours $1B Into Road Projects

Officials announced a one-time $1 billion investment in Tennessee’s 10-year road plan Tuesday, along with $80 million in recurring General Fund money, marking the first inclusion of transportation in the state’s annual budget.

The non-recurring billion will fast-track key projects and add new ones, while the recurring funds, redirected from the Tire Sales Tax, will cover road resurfacing, bridge repairs, litter removal, and rural highway aid.

The updated plan now includes 96 projects statewide, among them the state’s first new interstate trade route in 45 years.

State leaders emphasized there will be no new taxes or debt, calling the move a major win for safety, infrastructure, and economic competitiveness.

Nolensville Tops National Growth Charts

Nolensville is officially Tennessee’s fastest-growing city, with its population surging 163% since 2010, ranking it among the top 10 in the country.

Locals credit its small-town feel paired with big-city proximity for the boom, which has fueled housing demand, new developments, and traffic headaches alike.

The average home now sells for over $823,000, and household incomes rank among the state’s highest at an average of $170,000.

While longtime residents note the loss of farmland, realtors say Nolensville remains a top pick for families seeking space, schools, and suburban comfort just outside Nashville.

Brood XIV Cicadas Prepare to Swarm

Cicadas are back in Tennessee for the first time since 2008, as the 17-year Brood XIV emerges across the state and 12 others.

The noisy insects began appearing in late April once soil temps hit 64 degrees, and they’ll stick around through June, blanketing areas from Knoxville to Nashville with their telltale buzz.

Though harmless and non-biting, the red-eyed bugs are already appearing by the dozens across East Tennessee, with sightings reported near Pigeon Forge, Nashville, and Chattanooga.

Officials remind residents to keep pets from munching on them, as too many cicadas can upset a dog’s stomach.

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➤ Statewide: New federal emissions and regulatory policies have TVA officials reconsidering plans to close coal plants by 2035, with facilities like Shawnee and Gallatin expected to remain operational “for the foreseeable future.” (More)

➤ Sumner County: A local mother unveiled a billboard honoring her 16-year-old daughter, who died from fentanyl poisoning, to raise awareness and urge parents to discuss the dangers of counterfeit pills. (See Billboard)

➤ Nashville: Former Metro Nashville Police Lt. Garet Davidson was indicted on over 35 charges related to leaked Covenant School shooter writings, which his attorneys allege are retaliation for whistleblowing against MNPD leadership. (More)

➤ Oak Ridge: An update on the demolition of Alpha-2, a 325,000-square-foot Manhattan Project-era uranium enrichment facility from the 1940s, is set for May 14. (See Building)

➤ Franklin: A Tennessee Tech electrical engineering student received a Department of Defense SMART scholarship, covering tuition, a stipend, and a job at the Army’s Space and Missile Defense Command in Huntsville. (See Photo)

➤ Hamilton County: The Veterans Services Office announced plans to hire additional staff to streamline and enhance services for local veterans. (More)

➤ The Lady Vols golf team punched their ticket to Carlsbad, California, to compete in the NCAA championships for the first time since 2019. (More)

➤ The Nashville Predators retained coach Andrew Brunette through next season, bucking the NHL trend of swiftly firing coaches. (More)

➤ The Tennessee Titans re-signed defensive tackle James Lynch to a one-year deal, bolstering the team’s defensive line depth. Lynch finished last season with 20 tackles and one sack. (More)

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➤ EPB of Chattanooga and IonQ announced a $22 million partnership to build the nation’s first quantum computing and networking hub in Chattanooga. (More)

➤ Ford investors sent a letter to the board urging action on reported union-busting at a Kentucky battery plant and limited engagement with Black communities near Tennessee’s BlueOval City project. (More)

➤ A Chattanooga-based app developer met with lawmakers in Washington, D.C., to voice concerns that proposed privacy laws could hinder innovation and harm the tech industry. (More)

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➤ Country star Miranda Lambert encouraged American Idol contestants to stay true to themselves, sharing her journey from homelessness to owning a $3.5 million, 400-acre estate in Nashville. (See Photos)

➤ Seventeen endangered hellbender salamanders were released into the Duck River this week as part of a conservation effort to restore the species and support aquatic ecosystem balance. (More)

➤ Fort Defiance’s annual March to the Past is set for Saturday in Clarksville, featuring an immersive Civil War-era experience with reenactments and demonstrations. (See Details)

If you had to explain Tennessee to someone using just one smell, which would it be?

Previous Results:

What’s the real MVP of a meat-and-three plate?

Mashed potatoes: 22%
Fried okra: 22%
Mac and cheese: 21%
Turnip greens: 18%
Other: 17%

What 1970 Bob Dylan song was inspired by the sounds of Brood X cicadas outside Princeton University?

Show me the answer

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The Tennessee Flyover
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Thursday, May 8, 2025

Thursday, May 8, 2025

State Pours $1B Into Road Projects

Nolensville Tops National Growth Charts

Brood XIV Cicadas Prepare to Swarm

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