Wednesday, July 8, 2026

Good Morning! On this day in 1928, actor Mark Herron, who went on to appear in the acclaimed film 8½ and became perhaps better known as the fourth husband of Judy Garland, was born in Baxter.

When a power outage hit a Manchester grocery store, staff let customers walk out on the honor system, and every single one came back to pay. What stories do you have that put small-town values on display? Reply to tell us!

Today’s sponsor, Zap Zone Defender, helps you reclaim your backyard by silently eliminating up to 15,000 mosquitoes in a single night—without chemicals, sprays, or loud buzzing.

Family Wants Answers After Guard Shooting

The family of Tyrin Johnson, the 20-year-old shot and killed by Tennessee National Guard members in downtown Memphis early Sunday, is demanding the release of video footage.

Johnson’s grandfather says he’ll “fight and advocate” until he sees evidence supporting the official account that his grandson turned toward soldiers with a gun. The TBI identified Johnson and confirmed two Guard members fired, striking him twice in the chest during a foot chase.

Johnson’s grandfather, a former Davidson County correctional officer, confirmed that his grandson carried a gun for protection after being assaulted recently, but disputes that deadly force was warranted.

Memphis police have declined to release bodycam or surveillance footage. The federal Memphis Safe Task Force has deployed more than 700 Guard members to the city to date.

Inmate Caught After Morning Escape

Justin Dewayne Vaughn has been recaptured after escaping from a Sevier County litter crew just before 8 a.m. Tuesday near New Center Market on Newport Highway.

The escape set off a multi-agency manhunt that stretched across the county for more than five hours.

Authorities deployed an extensive response to track him down, including ground troops, K-9 units, drones, bloodhounds, and helicopters, along with mutual aid from surrounding agencies and tips from the public.

Just after 1 p.m., the Sevier County Sheriff’s Office confirmed Vaughn was back in custody, about five and a half hours after he slipped away from the roadside work detail.

Officer Buys Toys for Lost Boy with Autism

A Murfreesboro police sergeant responded to a call at a Target after a nonverbal boy with autism ran away from his family and was found in the toy section. The officer ended up purchasing dinosaur toys for the child before returning him safely to his mother.

Sgt. Travis Henderson, drawing on Crisis Intervention Training, kept the interaction calm and let the boy browse before accompanying him to the self-checkout. Henderson purchased the toys with help from a store employee before reuniting the child with his family.

The Murfreesboro Police Department shared the sweet story publicly this week, saying it represented “a moment of patience, understanding, and genuine compassion” and highlighting the role that Crisis Intervention Training played in guiding the officer’s approach.

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➤ Franklin: Williamson Health has agreed to a nearly $1 billion sale to Ascension Saint Thomas, choosing the Catholic nonprofit over competing offers after a two-year search for a partner. (More)

➤ Nashville: The metro council held public hearings last night on two data center bills, using a free ticketed speaker system to manage the massive crowd of concerned citizens. (More)

➤ Manchester: Every customer returned to pay after a grocery store ran on the honor system during a power outage. First responders also saved the frozen food with an old-fashioned bucket brigade. (More)

➤ Murfreesboro: The Catfeine Cat Cafe is warning guests who visited June 29 or 30 to watch for measles symptoms after a Tennessee Department of Health notification that an infected person was present. (More)

➤ Memphis: IKEA has asked the city to rename the street bearing its name back to Market Plaza Drive, two months after the company’s only Tennessee location closed for good. (More)

➤ Chattanooga: The Tennessee Aquarium has hatched seven endangered turtle hatchlings from five species since mid-May, including the first Ringed Map Turtle born there since 1998. (See Photos)

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➤ Tennessee Tech unveiled the new west grandstand of their $57 million football stadium renovation in Cookeville, adding luxury suites, club seating, and upgraded fan amenities. (More)

➤ Tennessee athletics switched back to Adidas this offseason after 12 years with Nike, and the program unveiled its new football uniforms this week. The orange jerseys feature slightly redesigned block numerals but are otherwise largely unchanged. (See Uniforms)

➤ The Nashville Predators signed defenseman Justin Barron to a one-year, $1.575 million contract. The 24-year-old played 52 games for Nashville last season after arriving in a trade from Colorado. (More)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: World Cup | Wimbledon | MLB | WNBA

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➤ FrightWorks, a Knox County haunted house in operation since 1999, is closing after its building was sold. Final shows are scheduled for this weekend while the owners search for a new home. (More)

➤ A casting company is seeking struggling Nashville-area restaurants to apply for an untitled new Gordon Ramsay show offering professional guidance from the celebrity chef. (More)

➤ Eight Clinton businesses were cited after an undercover operation using an 18-year-old volunteer found five selling alcohol and three selling tobacco or vape products to an underage customer. (More)

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➤ A Murfreesboro fan discovered he had Chris Johnson’s old cell number when messages from former Titans teammates flooded in after the ALS announcement. He tracked down Johnson’s family to pass them along. (More)

➤ Buddy, the Giles County dog seen on a viral video being thrown over a shelter fence last year, has found a forever home. His new owner says he’s thriving and “never stops smiling.” (See Photo)

➤ Dolly Parton announced her life-story musical Dolly: A True Original Musical is heading to Broadway. Opening night is set for her 81st birthday on Jan. 19, 2027. (More)

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The following stories are featured exclusively on The Flyover Podcast—a daily show that gives you the most important headlines in under 15 minutes. Clicking the links will take you directly to these stories:

➤ Iran has resumed missile strikes on ships in the Strait of Hormuz, U.S. officials say, threatening the peace deal. (Hear Details)

➤ Ukrainian forces have struck deep into Siberia, putting Russia’s largest refineries within reach for the first time. (Hear Episode)

➤ Discarded items found behind a Georgia Cracker Barrel have helped authorities crack a man’s 1985 killing in Ohio. (Listen Now)