Wednesday, April 8, 2026

Good Morning! On this day in 1895, Howell E. Jackson, who served as an Associate Justice for the Supreme Court of the United States and famously argued for the constitutionality of a federal income tax, was born in Paris.

A country music legend is recovering in a Nashville hospital after a fall left him with a broken neck, though doctors say he’s in good spirits and expected to heal up with time. See details below.

Did you know that the team that makes The Tennessee Flyover also produces a national publication called The Flyover? Click here to sign up and stay up to date with the latest national headlines—without the bias of legacy media outlets.

As AI’s explosive growth drives an unprecedented energy demand, today’s sponsor, Frontieras, is giving investors a last chance to get in early on a breakthrough company transforming coal into clean energy alternatives.

Take The Flyover with you. Busy day? Listen to our daily 15-minute podcast while commuting, cooking, or walking the dog — your Flyover fix, anywhere.

AI Bill Declares Machines Not Persons

The Tennessee Senate voted 26-6 to pass a bill stating artificial intelligence, algorithms, and machines are not legally considered persons under state law.

Lawmakers say the move seeks to set early guardrails as AI technology rapidly evolves and raises unprecedented legal questions.

Some senators debated how “personhood” is defined in existing law, noting it already applies to corporations and organizations.

Supporters call the bill a first step, with more discussion and potential revisions expected down the line. See more information about the bill here.

Rabies Vaccine Bait Dropped Regionally

Federal and state officials are rolling out more than 300,000 rabies vaccine baits across East Tennessee starting today, targeting wildlife like raccoons to slow the virus’s spread.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture says the baits will be distributed by air and ground in multiple counties, part of a broader effort covering four states.

In total, nearly 1.7 million baits will be deployed across Tennessee, North Carolina, Virginia, and Georgia.

Officials say the baits are safe for pets but advise people to leave them untouched if found.

Man Searches for WWII Dog Tag Owner

A Knoxville man is working to return a World War II-era dog tag to its rightful owner after finding it during a home repair job in the Bearden area.

Jason Bingham says the tag likely belonged to Ewell J. Reagin, a veteran who may have lived at the home previously.

After the homeowner confirmed it wasn’t theirs, Bingham took on the task of tracking down the family or a group that could preserve it.

He’s now asking the public for help to get the piece of history back where it belongs. Anyone with relevant information is asked to contact journalist Andrew McClung at amcclung@wbir.com.

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One Day Left to Invest in the ‘Nvidia of Energy’ at $7.77/share

NVIDIA’s valuation surged by 1,092% in just three years when it became the backbone of AI. But AI has a massive energy problem Nvidia can’t fix.

As AI data centers begin consuming more power than entire nations like Sweden or Argentina, Frontieras, North America’s patented technology, reforms coal into high-value commodities like hydrogen and diesel without burning it. It produces technical carbon to replace coal, which burns as cleanly as natural gas. Under a White House that favors energy production on our home soil, it could unlock up to $2.1 Trillion in energy potential.

Here’s why you shouldn’t miss this last chance to invest at $7.77/share:

“FASF” ticker reserved on the NASDAQ
$850M flagship facility in development
$20 million raised from investors so far

As a perfect storm of breakthroughs sets up the company for potential valuation impact, you have just one day left to invest at the current price. Lock in the $7.77 share price before the window closes on April 9, 2026.

➤ Nashville: 87-year-old country music legend Ray Stevens was hospitalized after suffering a fall that left him with a broken neck. He is expected to recover while wearing a brace for several weeks. (More)

➤ Statewide: A new synthetic opioid about 10 times stronger than fentanyl has been linked to at least 41 deaths in East Tennessee, including 25 since just February. (More)

➤ La Vergne: A local fire rescue team saved four people after a fishing boat capsized. No injuries were reported despite none of the passengers wearing life jackets. (More)

➤ Shelby County: The Tennessee House passed a bill requiring the county’s district attorney to report details on certain Memphis Safe Task Force arrests to state and federal officials. (More)

➤ Memphis: Blues fans and community members are organizing a cleanup of a neglected cemetery where legendary musicians like Furry Lewis are buried, citing years of lacking upkeep. (More)

➤ Great Smoky Mountains: The park will host a Signs of Spring event next Saturday in Cades Cove. Deaf leaders will teach about the region in celebration of National American Sign Language Day. (More)

➤ Tennessee women’s basketball has zero returning players for next season after freshman guard Jaida Civil became the eighth Lady Vol to enter the transfer portal. Top recruit Oliviyah Edwards also requested a release from her letter of intent. (More)

➤ Vanderbilt’s Shea Ralph was named AP Women’s Basketball Coach of the Year after leading the Commodores to a 29-5 record and a No. 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament. (More)

➤ The Memphis Grizzlies tied the NBA single-game record with 29 made three-pointers Monday night, but still lost 142-126 to the Cavaliers. (More)

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➤ BWXT plans to seek approval for a new uranium enrichment facility in Erwin. The plant would support U.S. defense needs and create about 100 jobs upon becoming operational around 2035. (More)

➤ Dutch Bros Coffee opened a new drive-thru location in Kingsport, employing about 40 workers as the chain expands further into the region. (More)

➤ Tennessee’s hemp tax revenue is expected to plunge after lawmakers banned THCA products and overhauled regulations, with officials already slashing projections. (More)

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The Next $435B Energy Empire Is Being Minted

In today’s dollars, John D. Rockefeller would be worth $435 billion. But “oil money” is old news, and what’s next might surprise investors in 2026: a $2.1 Trillion opportunity in “clean” coal.

Now is the “Rockefeller” moment for Frontieras as they reform coal into hydrogen, diesel, and other valuable commodities (just like Rockefeller did with oil). With a White House that favors domestic energy, the NASDAQ ticker FASF reserved, and land officially purchased for their flagship coal reformation plant, Frontieras is positioned for potential valuation impact.

You have until April 9 at 11:59 PM PT to invest in Frontieras at $7.77/share.*

This is a paid advertisement for Frontieras’s Regulation A offering. Please read the offering circular at https://invest.frontieras.com/. Reservation of the ticker symbol is not a guarantee that we will be listed on the NASDAQ. Listing on the NASDAQ is subject to approvals. Under Regulation A+, a company has the ability to change its share price by up to 20%, without requalifying the offering with the SEC.

➤ Nashville’s Cherry Blossom Festival, which ranks as the 10th best festival nationwide, is set for this Saturday downtown and will feature 1,000 trees, cultural events, and thousands of visitors. (More)

➤ Kingsport’s Fun Fest announced its 2026 Sunset Concert Series lineup for July 23–25, featuring acts like Daughtry, Switchfoot, Brothers Osborne, and LeAnn Rimes. Tickets go on sale tomorrow. (See Details)

➤ A stray rooster has been spotted wandering near a Hermitage community center and police precinct. Local officials are seeking help capturing the bird, which is not allowed under county rules. (More)

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