Wednesday, February 4, 2026

Good Morning! On this day in 1998, a record 18 inches of snow fell in Jamestown in one day. Over 20 inches of snow accumulated in total, shutting down most of Fentress County.

College students and faculty, here’s a deal you’ll want to know about: the Tennessee Aquarium is offering half-price admission all month long. Perfect for a break from studying or a low-cost date idea. Details in today’s Et Cetera.

Today’s sponsor, EnergyX, explains why surging lithium demand and breakthrough recovery technology are fueling a fast-growing “white gold” opportunity.

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.

Lee Delivers His Final State of State

Gov. Bill Lee delivered his final State of the State address Monday night, proposing a $57.9 billion budget focused on education, infrastructure, and economic development while growing the state’s reserves to over $2.2 billion.

The spending plan doubles Education Freedom Scholarships and includes major investments in higher education facilities and transportation infrastructure. Lee highlighted Tennessee’s ranking as the top state for nuclear energy development and pointed to 300,000 new jobs created during his two terms.

The governor said the state’s triple-AAA bond rating and fiscal discipline position Tennessee for continued growth. Priorities also include affordable housing initiatives targeting rural communities and funding to accelerate emerging technologies like quantum computing.

The address marks Lee’s eighth and final budget proposal after two terms as governor. Here are key highlights.

Commissioner Pleads Guilty to Tax Evasion

Shelby County Commissioner Edmund Ford Jr. pleaded guilty Monday to five counts of tax evasion, ending nearly a year of legal proceedings that began with bribery and kickback charges in February 2025.

Ford admitted to depositing more than $250,000 from nonprofit organizations into his computer business account between 2017 and 2021 while serving on the Memphis City Council and Shelby County Commission. Prosecutors say nonprofits receiving government grants purchased computers from Ford’s company in what authorities called corrupt payments.

Ford faces up to five years in prison on each count and will resign his commission seat. His sentencing is scheduled for June 12.

Elk Hunt Applications Open Statewide

Tennessee hunters can now apply for the state’s 2026 elk quota hunts, with applications accepted through Feb. 25 for 19 available permits in East Tennessee hunting zones.

The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency will award permits through a lottery system, with applicants selecting up to four hunt zones from 10 available areas. One permit is reserved for youth hunters ages 13-16, and another will be auctioned to support wildlife habitat programs.

Successful applicants cannot reapply for 10 years, and no more than 25 percent of permits can go to nonresidents. Applications are accepted online at GoOutdoorsTennessee.com, through the TWRA mobile app, or at any TWRA regional office.

Tennessee’s elk population has grown significantly since reintroduction in the early 2000s, allowing the hunt to expand from just five permits in 2009.

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This Metal’s Up 122% in the Last 12 Months

No, not gold. Lithium. Prices have more than doubled in the last year alone, spurring a modern-day “white gold” gold rush driven by AI, energy, and more.

With demand growing 5X by 2040, a major opportunity is emerging. No wonder 40,000+ people already invested in EnergyX.

Their patented tech can recover up to 3X more lithium than traditional methods, in days instead of months. That combination of technological prowess and market demand are partially why General Motors led a $50M investment round in EnergyX.

In the past 24 months, EnergyX has raised nearly $100M from retail investors, acquired close to 150k+ acres of lithium-rich land across North and South America, and announced what could be one of the largest DLE lithium production facilities in the U.S.

Now, you can join for $11/share. But hurry. Invest before the price increases after Feb. 26.

➤ Nashville: Some residents face power restoration dates as late as Feb. 9 as utility crews continue repairs, with families spending $100 daily on generator fuel. (More)

➤ Pigeon Forge: East Tennessee recorded up to 13.5 inches of snow near Pigeon Forge and Jonesborough during the weekend storm, the highest measurements in the region. (More)

➤ Chattanooga: Con Nooga 2026 returns to the Chattanooga Convention Center Feb. 20-22, celebrating imagination and community with fans, creators, and partners across the region. (More)

➤ Knoxville: Remote Area Medical is offering free dental, vision, and medical services Friday through Sunday at the Jacob Building for anyone needing care without insurance. (More)

➤ Middle Tennessee residents spotted rare “sun pillars” during Saturday night’s sunset, a vertical beam of light caused by cold air, high cirrus clouds, and the sun’s low angle near the horizon. (See Pillars)

➤ Nashville was selected as one of six U.S. cities to host soccer games during the 2028 Summer Olympics. (More)

➤ The Memphis Grizzlies traded Jaren Jackson Jr., Vince Williams Jr., John Konchar, and Jock Landale to the Utah Jazz for a bevy of young talent and draft picks. (More)

➤ 25-year-old Tennessee quarterback Joey Aguilar is suing the NCAA for an additional year of eligibility, arguing that his junior college career shouldn’t count toward his four-year eligibility clock. (More)

➤ Women’s Basketball AP Poll: Vanderbilt dropped two spots to No. 7 in this week’s rankings, while Tennessee dropped four spots to No. 19. (See Full Poll)

➤ The Tennessee Titans hired San Francisco 49ers assistant coach Gus Bradley as their next defensive coordinator. Bradley has constructed top-ten scoring defenses four times in his career, including with the “Legion of Boom” Seattle Seahawks in the early 2010s. (More)

➤ Yesterday’s results: NBA | NHL | NCAAM | NCAAW | Soccer

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➤ State Rep. Jason Powell filed a bill Monday seeking to hold utilities accountable for electric grid issues after thousands remained without power across Tennessee. (More)

➤ The Tennessee Business Roundtable, representing statewide corporate leaders, held a Day on the Hill in Nashville on Tuesday to discuss policy priorities that drive economic growth, workforce competitiveness, and workforce development. (See Details)

➤ Summit Wealth Group announced a merger with Nashville-based Premier Private Wealth, adding $470 million in assets under management. (More)

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The Tale Behind SpaceX’s $1.5 Trillion IPO

SpaceX plans to IPO at a $1.5T valuation. If true, they’d be the tenth-most-valuable public company by the time the average person can invest.

The lesson? Like Uber, which delivered 490,000% returns to First Round Capital, the biggest growth today comes at the private stage.

A similar dynamic is playing out in lithium, with EnergyX crossing a $1B private valuation. Only this time, you can invest at the private stage, too.

Why did big names like General Motors already back EnergyX? Because lithium powers everything from EVs to data centers. Demand will grow 5X by 2040, and EnergyX’s tech can recover up to 3X more lithium than traditional methods.

Now, they’re preparing to unlock up to 9.8M tons of lithium in Chile, a $1.1B/year revenue opportunity at projected market prices. Invest before EnergyX’s share price increases after Feb. 26.

Comparisons to other companies are for informational purposes only. Past performance is not indicative of future results.

Energy Exploration Technologies, Inc. (“EnergyX”) has engaged The Flyover to publish this communication in connection with EnergyX’s ongoing Regulation A offering. The Flyover has been paid in cash and may receive additional compensation. The Flyover and/or its affiliates do not currently hold securities of EnergyX.

This compensation and any current or future ownership interest could create a conflict of interest. Please consider this disclosure alongside EnergyX’s offering materials. EnergyX’s Regulation A offering has been qualified by the SEC. Offers and sales may be made only by means of the qualified offering circular. Before investing, carefully review the offering circular, including the risk factors. The offering circular is available at invest.energyx.com/.

Under Regulation A+, a company has the ability to change its share price by up to 20%, without requalifying the offering with the SEC.

➤ The Tennessee Aquarium is offering half-price admission throughout February for college students, faculty, and staff with valid ID, including discounted IMAX screenings. (More)

➤ Chattanooga Zoo is offering 15 percent off annual memberships throughout February using promotional code MEMBER15, providing families discounted access for the entire year. (More)

➤ Cheatham County Animal Control is seeking foster homes for six-month-old puppies rescued from a frozen outdoor pen during last week’s ice storm. The “ice storm survivor” pups were named after the local helpers who assisted during the weather emergency. (See Pups)

Flying together with our sponsor

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Wednesday, February 4, 2026

Wednesday, February 4, 2026

Lee Delivers His Final State of State

Commissioner Pleads Guilty to Tax Evasion

Elk Hunt Applications Open Statewide

One Email. All The Tennessee News.

Get Informed About The Volunteer State In 5 Minutes.

One Email. All The Tennessee News.

Get Informed About The Volunteer State In 5 Minutes.