Tuesday, May 13, 2025

Good Morning! On this day in 1780, the Cumberland Compact was finalized, establishing a provisional government for the Cumberland River settlement near the present-day Nashville area.

Readers looking for a little summer entertainment can head to Graceland to watch twelve-year-old Elvis impersonator, Cooper, perform an enthusiastic tribute to the King of Rock and Roll. See more details below.

Do you love Tennessee? So do our 55,000 readers. Advertise in The Tennessee Flyover and connect your business with passionate locals. Learn more.

We’re sponsored today by IotaComm, offering an investment opportunity in a nationwide wireless network.

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.

ICE, THP Continue Nashville Enforcement Stops

An ongoing joint operation between federal immigration officials and the Tennessee Highway Patrol resulted in over 100 arrests during nearly 600 traffic stops in the Nashville area on Friday.

The sweep, tied to President Trump’s renewed deportation push, also uncovered illegal drugs, firearms, and a fugitive wanted for murder in El Salvador.

The traffic stop arrests corresponded with Gov. Bill Lee’s recent creation of a state immigration enforcement unit, joining other GOP-led states aligning with Trump’s deportation goals.

Immigrant rights groups have criticized the traffic operation, but THP has pointed out its stops were based solely on driver behavior.

Truck Driver Charged After I-75 Tragedy

Two people were killed and three remain in critical condition after a tractor-trailer plowed into traffic on Sunday on I-75 near East Ridge.

Authorities say the driver failed to slow down, triggering a fiery six-vehicle crash that sent multiple victims to the hospital.

The driver now faces two counts of reckless homicide and ten other felony charges.

Emergency crews worked for hours to contain the scene and extricate victims, with traffic rerouted off the interstate.

Computer Science Now a Graduation Requirement

Starting with the class of 2028, all Tennessee high schoolers must complete a computer science course to graduate, joining 11 other states with similar mandates.

The bipartisan 2022 law, which aims to prepare students for the workforce, is increasingly shaped by artificial intelligence and tech-driven industries.

Enrollment has nearly doubled since 2021, with over 60,000 middle and high school students now taking computer science courses statewide.

Business leaders, including CEOs from Microsoft, Uber, and LinkedIn, are pushing other states to follow Tennessee’s example.

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The $1.5 Trillion Tech Upgrade Our Cities Have Been Waiting For

Wi-Fi alone can’t handle the technologies connecting businesses, schools, and major institutions.

That’s why brands like Crayola are tapping into IotaComm’s nationwide wireless network. It’s less costly than Wi-Fi but powerful enough to help build “smarter” operations across entire cities and towns.

IotaComm’s cutting-edge IoT platform, Delphi360, can improve air quality, energy usage, and traffic. The company is planning to integrate AI in its next product release.

Here’s why it’s such a game-changer:

IotaComm owns a nationwide portfolio of scarce FCC-licensed spectrum
It’s a $1.5 trillion internet of things market opportunity
Potential to reduce energy usage by up to 30%

But there’s even better news…

IotaComm is giving investors a chance to participate in their growth. Learn more about becoming an IotaComm shareholder here.

➤ Statewide: A new report shows 44% of Tennessee households, including many working families, can’t afford basic needs due to rising costs and low wages, with West Tennessee hit hardest. (See Report)

➤ Also statewide: Experts warned that Bradford pear trees are invasive and crowd out native species, prompting lawmakers to push for a statewide environmental impact study. (More)

➤ Pigeon Forge: State troopers and park rangers executed a risky overnight rescue in the Smoky Mountains on May 9, carrying a woman with a fractured leg through steep, rain-soaked terrain to safety. (See Photos)

➤ Knox County: A new French Broad Veterans Memorial Park will open Friday, featuring a memorial wall, pavilion, and scenic overlook built with $2 million in donations to honor local veterans. (More)

➤ Dickson: The state is building a $4.25 million forestry work center to house burn permit writers, firefighting equipment, and seedling storage, with construction expected to finish by March 2026. (See Mockup)

➤ Nashville: A new study finds parts of Nashville are sinking 1–3 millimeters per year due to subsidence, largely caused by groundwater extraction and natural forces, posing risks to buildings and infrastructure. (See Study)

➤ UT-Knoxville and Belmont will represent the state in the postseason NCAA softball tournament, marking the first time Belmont has played in the event. (More)

➤ Former Oklahoma guard Duke Miles committed to Vanderbilt basketball after decommitting and recommitting to three programs this offseason. (More)

➤ Nashville Predators center Steven Stamkos was voted onto the NHL’s Quarter-Century Team, making him one of the best hockey players of the last 25 years. (More)

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

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➤ The 161-room Tempo by Hilton Nashville Midtown reached its construction topping-out milestone and remains on track to open by late 2025, bringing a lifestyle hotel with dining, fitness, and meeting amenities to the Vanderbilt-area corridor. (See Photo)

➤ Chattanooga Whiskey unveiled its Spring 2021 Bottled-in-Bond Vintage, a high-malt bourbon featuring a unique five-grain mash bill with roasted and smoked malts, now available at its Experimental Distillery and soon in wider distribution. (See Bourbon)

➤ Quality Furniture Company in Murfreesboro began its going-out-of-business sale on May 8, marking the closure of the family-run store after 56 years due to the owners’ planned retirement. (More)

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Crayola Advances Manufacturing Excellence with Hidden Tech

One of America’s most iconic brands is using cutting-edge technology to improve manufacturing quality and help reduce energy consumption by up to 30%.

But they’re just one of several major brands leveraging IotaComm’s cutting-edge Internet of Things (IoT) platform to improve their business operations.

Wifi alone has proven too costly for IoT tech, but IotaComm is quietly building a nationwide wireless network to make strong, secure, and low-cost connectivity possible for powering its commercial applications.

They’re setting the foundations of a more connected world, which amounts to $1.5 trillion in market potential.

Learn how you can become an IotaComm shareholder.

This is a paid advertisement for IotaComm’s Regulation CF Offering. Please read the offering circular at invest.iotacomm.com.

➤ LEGO Masters Season 5, premiering May 19 on FOX, features Spring Hill resident Brittain Edison competing alongside her sister Niki as the show’s first-ever sister team battling for a $100,000 prize and LEGO trophy. (See Photo)

➤ Twelve-year-old Elvis impersonator Cooper from Paignton, U.K., has landed three performance slots at Graceland this August after impressing Elvis Presley Enterprises with his tribute act videos. (See Photos)

➤ A “Canstruction” event at White County Middle School last week had students use over 600 canned goods to build themed sculptures, blending STEM learning with community service. (See Sculptures)

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