Wednesday, April 9, 2025

Good Morning! On this day in 1796, Tennessee County was renamed and split into two separate counties: Robertson County and Montgomery County.

Tennessee residents continue to embody the Volunteer spirit, as nearly 400 people participated in a community cleanup event in Sumner County. See the full story below.

We’re sponsored today by BOXABL, offering an opportunity to invest in groundbreaking building technology.

Clarksville Flooding Displaces Thousands

Around 4,500 people were forced from their homes in Clarksville after last week’s storms triggered severe flooding, pushing rivers well beyond flood stage.

The Cumberland River crested above 50 feet Sunday night, with the Red River close behind at nearly 40 feet, bringing floodwaters that damaged at least 165 homes.

Clarksville and Montgomery County declared a joint state of emergency Monday while crews began cleanup efforts in the community. Retail giant Lowe’s is set to hand out free emergency supplies at two locations today.

White House Replants Historic Magnolia Tree

The White House planted a sapling from Andrew Jackson’s historic Tennessee magnolia tree in the South Lawn, replacing the nearly 200-year-old original.

The old magnolia, believed to have been planted by Jackson himself using seeds from his Hermitage estate near Nashville, had stood since the 1800s.

Arborists deemed the original too unstable after years of storm damage and decay, though its wood will be preserved for future projects.

The new tree—a 12-year-old descendant grown by the National Park Service—ensures Jackson’s Tennessee legacy will continue to shade the White House.

List: Tennessee Grad Schools Ranked

A new national ranking of the best graduate schools listed the University of Tennessee’s Tickle College of Engineering and Haslam College of Business among the country’s top graduate programs.

Rankings based on surveys of graduate programs, academics, and industry experts placed Tickle College’s nuclear engineering program No. 2 among public universities and No. 3 nationally; Haslam College ranked 6th.

Vanderbilt also earned high rankings for its engineering, medical, law, and business schools. Among other state schools on the list were Belmont, East Tennessee State, and Memphis. See the complete report here.

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➤ Nashville: A bomb threat Tuesday morning prompted a lockdown at Harpeth Hall School but was found to be a false alarm following an investigation by authorities. (More)

➤ Oak Ridge: The Department of Energy has named Oak Ridge and 15 other sites as potential AI data center locations, with construction projected to begin in 2027. (More)

➤ Knox County: The Board of Education is set to vote today on a one-time $2,000 teacher bonus, tied to a voucher bill requiring local board approval by June 1. (More)

➤ Rutherford County: Parents, teachers, and students attended Monday’s Commissioners meeting, urging leaders to address the projected $5 million deficit facing county schools next academic year. (More)

➤ Chattanooga: The Hamilton County Health Department now uses real-time overdose surveillance systems to quickly alert officials and deliver lifesaving care, including treatments like Narcan. (More)

➤ Sumner County: Nearly 400 volunteers joined this year’s Community Clean Up Day, removing more than 8,600 pounds of trash from streets across the community. (More)

➤ The Tennessee Volunteers baseball team dropped four spots to No. 5 in one Top-25 poll after their doubleheader loss to Texas A&M, marking their first SEC series defeat in the last 12 series. (More)

➤ The Tennessee Senate approved a bill to change student athlete transfer rules Monday, allowing student athletes to transfer schools once without changing their address and still retain eligibility. (More)

➤ The Tennessee Titans on Tuesday met with wide receiver Kyle Williams, former teammate of quarterback Cam Ward, hinting they may select Ward with the No. 1 pick at this month’s draft. (More)

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➤ Spirit Airlines will launch nonstop flights from Nashville to Savannah as part of its fall 2025 expansion, offering three weekly departures with limited-time one-way fares starting at $59. (More)

➤ Three Tennessee Big Lots stores in Clarksville, Gallatin, and Dickson will reopen this week under new ownership as the retailer seeks a comeback after bankruptcy and over 600 store closures. (More)

➤ Opry Entertainment Group won a 10-year, $41.2 million contract to manage Nashville’s Ascend Amphitheater, unseating Live Nation, which had run the venue since 2015. (More)

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**This is a paid advertisement for Boxabl’s Regulation A offering. Please read the offering circular at https://www.boxabl.com/invest/. * Reservations represents a non-binding indication of interest to purchase as Casita. A reservation does not require purchase of a Casita and there is no assurance of how many will result in actual purchases.

➤ A Kingston Springs home crushed by a tree in 2021 was hit again in the exact same spot during weekend storms. I can’t imagine being hit three times, said the owner. (See Video)

➤ Downtown Knoxville’s Cradle of Country Music Park unveiled Pier 865, a $1.2 million permanent art piece featuring twisted stripes forming a canopy above a concert platform. (See Sculpture)

➤ Nashville will host several spring-themed events Saturday, including the Moosic City Dairy Dash, East Nashville Beer Fest, and Cherry Blossom Festival, featuring races, beer, and blooms citywide. (More)

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