Thursday, November 5, 2026

Good Morning! On this day in 2002, Democrat Phil Bredesen narrowly defeated Republican Van Hilleary to become Tennessee’s 48th governor. Four years later, Bredesen won reelection by carrying all 95 counties.

Nashville is home to North America’s largest group of giant anteaters, and you’ve probably never seen them. Find out why in Et Cetera. What’s your favorite animal to see at the zoo? Hit reply and tell us.

Do you think tipping culture is out of control? Everyone is talking about it, so today Ayla breaks down five reasons Americans are fed up with the system, then flips the tablet around with five reasons tipping still matters. The spinning screen at the sandwich counter and the server who waits on your table are two very different stories. How much per hour do servers actually make on tips? Ayla has the full breakdown on today’s episode of The Flyover Podcast. Tune in here!

Later today, you’ll receive a special email from Insurify about how comparing car insurance quotes from more than 100 companies could help you save up to $1,100 a year.

Today’s sponsor, hear.com, invites you to explore Horizon IX, a nearly invisible hearing aid designed to separate speech from background noise, with a personalized 45-day no-risk trial.

Trump Floats Hegseth for Blackburn’s Seat

President Trump said Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth would be “very popular” if he filled Marsha Blackburn’s U.S. Senate seat, which she’ll give up after winning Tennessee’s governor’s race.

Trump said he isn’t considering replacing Hegseth after Republicans’ midterm losses, though sources reported he has asked advisers whether Hegseth should stay.

Hegseth, who moved to Sumner County in 2022, is among several Republicans eyeing the seat, along with Reps. Tim Burchett and Chuck Fleischmann, former Knox County Mayor Glenn Jacobs, and former CoreCivic CEO Damon Hininger.

Blackburn has said she’ll keep her Senate seat until she’s sworn in as governor and then appoint her own replacement.

Voters Pass Charter Changes across Cities

Memphis voters approved all three city charter referendums on Tuesday’s ballot.

The measures expand civil service protections for public library workers, require lobbyists to register and disclose their activities, and give the mayor and City Council more authority over employment appeals.

The library measure passed with 65% support, the lobbyist rules with 77%, and the appeals change with 64%.

In Knoxville, voters also weighed a charter amendment that would let city council candidates who win a majority in the primary skip the general election.

Knoxville Works to Light Up the Sunsphere

Knoxville is working to light up the Sunsphere, the 266-foot gold-glass landmark from the 1982 World’s Fair that has long gone dark at night.

Visit Knoxville has said a “more dynamic” lighting plan would be its next goal after opening the Sunsphere’s new welcome center.

The structure was lit red, white, and blue for a 2016 Fourth of July celebration, using temporary LEDs that cost less than $5,000.

Materials will be ordered this month, with installation taking place next year and an unveiling planned for fall 2027.

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Experience Clarity

➤ Monroe County: Five people, including three EMS clinicians, were hurt when an ambulance crashed head-on and rolled over on New Highway 68 Tuesday. (More)

➤ Nashville: A K9 sniffed out 60 pounds of vacuum-sealed marijuana in a 21-year-old woman’s luggage at the airport after a flight from San Jose, police say. (More)

➤ Also Nashville: The Vanderbilt Kennedy Center won $19.6 million in state education contracts to support students with disabilities, including behavior coaching and help with IEPs. (More)

➤ Chattanooga: A lightning strike closed the city’s Wood Recycling Center to businesses and non-city residents, though city residents can still drop off brush while crews make repairs. (More)

➤ Knoxville: Some residents are reporting more run-ins with bears and coyotes as development pushes into wildlife habitat, prompting neighbors to keep their trash indoors. (More)

➤ Meigs County: Voters approved liquor sales on Tuesday’s ballot, clearing the way for package stores in the county. (More)

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➤ Memphis quarterback Marcus Stokes was named Davey O’Brien National Quarterback of the Week after throwing for 371 yards and accounting for five touchdowns in a 49-22 win over Army. (More)

➤ Multiple NFL teams have shown interest in Titans running back Tony Pollard as the trade deadline nears, according to a report. (More)

➤ Vols defensive lineman Xavier Gilliam, a Penn State transfer who had three sacks in the season opener, was named a Lombardi Award semifinalist. (More)

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➤ Developers are building Lovell Road Townhomes on about 16 acres in West Knox County, with 60 townhomes and two apartment buildings holding 16 units. (More)

➤ Walker & Dunlop arranged $109.9 million in financing for Wyndchase Aspen Grove, a 560-unit apartment community in Franklin. (More)

➤ Target’s new Cookeville store at The Willows development features expanded fresh produce, meat, and dairy and is expected to employ about 150 people. (More)

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➤ Paying for Amazon Prime? Your shopping routine could deserve a second look. FinanceBuzz shares 10 ideas for Amazon shoppers, from cash-back opportunities to ways to earn extra spending money beyond Amazon. Explore the list, review each offer’s requirements, and see which options could fit your budget. Take a look.

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➤ Despite severe drought, Middle Tennessee got surprisingly vivid fall colors thanks to cool October nights and calm, windless weather that kept leaves on the trees longer. (More)

➤ Lexington actress Liberty Knowles stars in The Asylum, a horror film shot at a real abandoned West Virginia asylum, showing at Princess Theater through today. (More)

➤ Nashville Zoo, home to North America’s largest collection of giant anteaters, is in the spotlight for its conservation work, including a behind-the-scenes breeding program and research in Brazil. (More)

Flying together with our sponsor

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The following stories are featured exclusively on The Flyover Podcast—a daily show that gives you the most important headlines in under 15 minutes.

➤ Americans are fed up with tip screens, but what’s the real effect on workers’ paychecks? (Listen Now)

➤ Passengers who paid more than $300,000 for a lifetime at sea have been forced off their cruise ship in Cambodia. (Hear Why)

➤ The scientist who helped create Russia’s Novichok nerve agent, then accused Moscow of using it for state-level hits, has been found dead. (Hear Story)