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Article Icon 1School Board Debates Winter vs. Christmas

The Sumner County School Board reignited a fiery debate last week over whether to label December’s time off as Christmas Break or Winter Break. 

The board had renamed it Christmas Break last year, but some members, claiming concerns over inclusivity and regional inconsistency, now want it changed back. 

Others argue the name reflects tradition and shouldn’t be altered for fear of offense.

A final decision is expected at the board’s meeting today, with a possible compromise of dual calendar versions on the table.

Article Icon 1Two New State Parks Open Near Chattanooga

Tennessee officially opened Fiery Gizzard State Park and Head of the Crow State Park this week, adding two scenic destinations to the state park system near Chattanooga. 

Fiery Gizzard, dedicated Monday, features over 20 miles of trails through bluffs, waterfalls, and forestland in Grundy and Marion counties.

Head of the Crow, which opened Tuesday, protects 4,200 acres in the Lost Cove area and includes the Sewanee Natural Bridge and biodiverse ridge-top habitats. 

Both parks are within a two-hour drive from Chattanooga and Nashville, making them prime options for hikers and nature lovers.

Article Icon 1Vanderbilt Cracks Top 10 for First Time Since ’47

Vanderbilt jumped to No. 10 in the latest AP Top 25, marking its first top-10 football ranking since 1947.

The Commodores, now 6-1, climbed seven spots after knocking off No. 10 LSU in their first win over the Tigers in 35 years.

Ohio State stayed at No. 1 following a shutout at Wisconsin, while Indiana moved to No. 2.

A chaotic weekend saw nine ranked teams lose, prompting major reshuffling in a poll that now includes five SEC teams in the top 10.

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From a Caltech Garage to a $1 Trillion Market

In 2016, some innovative Caltech robotics students set out to transform fast food. That first garage-built prototype became Miso Robotics.

Since then, Miso’s robots have worked 200K+ hours in live kitchens for brands like White Castle, frying 4M+ baskets of fries, chicken, and more. That traction convinced NVIDIA, Uber AI, and Amazon to help refine Miso’s AI and robots. As restaurants grapple with 144% employee turnover rates and $20/hour minimum wages, that’s a major edge. 

No wonder Miso’s first fully commercial robot, Flippy Fry Station, sold out initial units in one week. 

Now, Miso’s leveraging its new manufacturing partnership to scale US-based production nationwide across a $4B annual revenue opportunity. 

Join 39k+ people as an early-stage Miso investor today. But don’t wait. This Thursday is the final day to invest this year.

 

Around Tennessee

➤ Smyrna: The Tennessee Rehabilitation Center abruptly closed due to the ongoing government shutdown, forcing students with special needs to leave mid-program. (More)

➤ Jonesborough: The Tennessee Stream Team is seeking volunteers for monthly hands-on restoration work to repair flood-damaged riverbanks along the Nolichucky. (See Details)

➤ Knoxville: The Knoxville Track Club apologized after congestion at the Neyland Stadium finish line left some runners waiting over 30 minutes to complete the “Finish on the Field 5K” on Saturday. (More)

➤ Clarksville: Austin Peay State University has established the Richard G. Fraser Tennis Scholarship through a gift from the late alumnus’s estate, supporting student tennis players. (More)

➤ Chattanooga: The airport announced the return of nonstop flights to Miami starting February 2026, offering travelers access to additional destinations like Cancun, Nassau, and Punta Cana. (More)

➤ La Vergne: Officials, including the FBI, are investigating a cybersecurity issue that disrupted computer systems and forced City Hall to close Friday. (More)

Tennessee Carolina Sports

➤ Tennessee football dropped six spots to No. 17 in this week’s AP Poll following Saturday’s loss to Alabama, while the Memphis Tigers fell out of the Top 25 entirely after losing to UAB. (See Full Poll)

➤ No. 6 Memphis women’s soccer beat East Carolina 5-0 on Sunday, clinching their third consecutive conference championship title. They’ll be the No. 1 seed in the American Conference tournament, which kicks off on November 3. (More)

➤ Nashville SC secured the No. 6 seed in the MLS Cup Playoffs, and will face Lionel Messi and Inter Miami in the first round. Game One of the series will be Friday night in Miami. (More)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: NFL | MLB | NHL | Soccer | Tennis

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Tennessee Business

➤ The University of Tennessee is proposing a 10-year, $5.16 million Knoxville lease for office space as part of its off-campus expansion, with the Board of Trustees set to vote at its next meeting. (More)

➤ Volkswagen employees in Chattanooga sent a counteroffer to the company as a $1,500 signing bonus deadline looms. The union’s latest offer says the automaker’s “final” contract is insufficient. (More)

➤ Nashville’s Santa’s Pub reopened Sunday to celebrate the birthday and legacy of late owner Denzel Irwin. His grandson is now taking the reins to preserve the beloved bar. (More)

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“One of the Largest Industries Ever”

That’s what NVIDIA’s CEO said about robotics. And he’s not alone. Ark Invest values it as a $24 trillion global opportunity. 

So it’s a big deal that NVIDIA, Uber AI, and Amazon helped Miso Robotics perfect Flippy, its new fully commercial kitchen robot. It’s no wonder that initial units sold out in just one week.

Miso already has 200K+ hours for brands like White Castle under its belt. With the $1T fast-food industry facing 144% employee turnover rates, Flippy provides 24/7 labor and can boost profits by up to 3X.

Now, Miso’s leveraging its new manufacturing partnership to scale US-based production nationwide across a $4B annual revenue opportunity. 

And you can join 39k+ people as an early-stage Miso investor today. But don’t wait. Thursday is the final day to invest this year.

This is a paid advertisement for Miso Robotics’ Regulation A offering. Please read the offering circular at invest.misorobotics.com.
Et Cetera

➤ PumpkinFest, Middle Tennessee’s largest fall festival, returns to downtown Franklin on Saturday. The full-day event features live music, food vendors, and costume contests. (More)

➤ Comedian Katt Williams is bringing his Golden Age Tour to Memphis on March 6, 2026. Tickets for the FedExForum performance go on sale on Wednesday. (See Details)

➤ Haunted car washes—complete with fog, lights, and creepy characters—are popping up in cities like Murfreesboro, Clarksville, and Lebanon, offering thrills from the safety of your vehicle. (See Photos)

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The Poll

Would you visit a haunted car wash?

  1. Yes, bring on the spooky
  2. No, not interested
  3. Maybe if car is dirty


 

Previous Results:

Who is your favorite author with Tennessee ties?

  1. Frances H. Burnett: 20%
  2. Ann Patchett: 20%
  3. Cormac McCarthy: 20%
  4. James Agee: 20%
  5. Other (reply to tell us): 20%
North Carolina Trivia

What prolific country music icon is also remembered for her historic 1800s home, which is said to be haunted?

Show me the answer

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