Wednesday, May 14, 2025

Good Morning! On this day in 1834, a tornado reported at the time as being “very severe” crossed over the state border from Alabama, and damaged homes and plantations in the Pulaski area.

Today’s edition includes an important warning for readers to be on the lookout for Poison Hemlock, a toxic plant that is lethal to humans and animals and is spreading quickly across the state. See more details in the story below.

We’re sponsored today by Kerassentials. Be sure to check them out in today’s edition.

Have you listened to our national The Flyover Podcast yet? New episodes drop daily. It’s your daily companion for the top national headlines shaping the country. Watch on YouTube or listen on Spotify and Apple Podcasts, all in under 15 minutes.

School Voucher Applications Open Thursday

Tennessee’s new school voucher program, part of the Education Freedom Act passed in January, begins accepting applications on Thursday.

The state will offer 20,000 scholarships worth about $7,000 each to K–12 students who want to attend private schools.

Half of the vouchers are set aside for income-based or previously eligible students. Tennessee residency, lawful U.S. status, and school-age enrollment are required. Here’s a list of eligibility requirements.

If demand tops 75% of available spots, the program allows for up to 5,000 more scholarships. You can apply here.

Toxic Plant Spreads Across State

Poison Hemlock, a toxic plant lethal to humans and animals, is rapidly spreading across Tennessee, according to the state Department of Agriculture. See a photo of the plant here.

The plant, which is now flowering, can be dangerous to touch or inhale and fatal if ingested, causing symptoms like trembling, paralysis, and even death.

Officials urge residents not to mow or burn it, but to remove it by hand with gloves and seek help from local extension offices.

Poison Hemlock typically grows along fence lines and ditches. Its entire plant is toxic, especially in spring.

Pain-Free Mammograms Arrive in Nashville

Comfort Imaging has opened Middle Tennessee’s first non-compression mammography center, offering a less painful alternative for breast cancer screenings.

The facility, located in Nashville, uses Koning Vera CT technology, which provides high-quality 3D imaging without the squeezing typically associated with traditional mammograms.

Each visit takes 30 minutes or less, aiming to ease anxiety and improve screening rates among women.

The clinic’s leadership hopes this advancement will help more women take control of their breast health.

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➤ Statewide: Death row inmates are suing the state over alleged secrecy in its lethal injection process, claiming the Department of Corrections may be sourcing execution drugs from illegal “gray market” channels. (More)

➤ Also statewide: Gov. Bill Lee signed the Farmland Preservation Act into law on Monday, creating a permanent conservation easement and grant fund to help farmers voluntarily protect their land amid the state’s rapid growth. (More)

➤ Cookeville: Tennessee Tech’s Water Center joined a statewide task force to protect the Duck River, helping develop a conservation plan amid growing pollution and water demand. (See Photo)

➤ Knox County: West Knox Utility District confirmed changes in water taste and odor are due to natural organic materials from weather shifts, but the water remains safe to drink and meets all regulatory standards. (See Details)

➤ Sevier County: Northview Senior Academy and Sevier County High School were honored for registering 100% of eligible students to vote, part of a statewide effort to boost civic engagement among youth. (See Video)

➤ Clarksville: Austin Peay State University’s Criminal Justice Department is rolling out a virtual reality initiative, using headsets to immerse students in courtroom simulations, crime scenes, and first responder scenarios. (More)

➤ UT-Chattanooga’s basketball team won the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame’s “Male Amateur Team of the Year” award for 2025. The Mocs went 29-9 on the season and won the 2025 NIT tournament. (More)

➤ The Vanderbilt Commodores are now ranked the No. 9 team in college baseball after beating the Vols last weekend. Tennessee has dropped to No. 17. (More)

➤ An anonymous source confirmed that billionaire Josh Kushner sold his minority stake in the Memphis Grizzlies in order to purchase a stake in the Miami Heat instead. (More)

➤ Yesterday’s results: MLB | NBA | NHL | NCAAB | Soccer

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➤ Volkswagen celebrated five years of partnership with the University of Tennessee, highlighting collaborations in engineering, research, and workforce development alongside Oak Ridge National Laboratory. (See Photos)

➤ Capitol Music Group reorganized its Nashville divisions under one banner, naming Candice Watkins as President of Capitol Records Nashville and EVP of Capitol Christian to lead its expanded country and faith-based operations. (More)

➤ A developer withdrew plans for an $800 million, 190-acre agrihood project in East Chattanooga after months of delays and neighborhood opposition, ending efforts to rezone the site for a mixed-use community blending housing with local agriculture. (More)

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Imagine doing something so simple in the shower—just three minutes a day—yet watching stubborn itching and that awful foot odor disappear almost overnight.

This easy trick also supports healthier skin and nails without harsh pills, greasy creams, or irritating gels.

Doctors can’t quite explain why it works so well, but with over 45,000 people clearing up foot fungus in just days, it’s hard to ignore.

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Discover the simple steps here: Shower Hack That Wipes Out Fungus

➤ A new museum called “It’s Now or Never: Museum of Music Icons” opened in Nashville’s Marathon Village, showcasing personal items from legends like Johnny Cash, Elvis, Loretta Lynn, and Hank Williams Sr., curated by collector Brian Oxley. (See Museum)

➤ A pay-what-you-can micro art gallery, launched by East Nashville artist Erin Riley in a repurposed newspaper stand, offers small, handmade art pieces to make collecting art more accessible to the community. (See Photos)

➤ The Grand Ole Opry unveiled a custom Opry 100 tapestry by legendary tailor Manuel Cuevas, with Marty Stuart receiving the first of matching commemorative scarves as part of the centennial celebration. (See Tapestry)

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