Wednesday, September 2, 2026

Good Morning! On this day in 1956, Tennessee National Guardsmen were sent to quell riots as 12 African-American students began attending unsegregated schools in Clinton.

Parts of Tennessee have baked through 55 days of 90-degree heat this year, but relief is finally on the horizon. When the first cool front finally arrives, what’s the first fall thing you’ll do? Hit reply and let us know. 🍂

What are the things experts say you need to buy before you retire? Research shows there are seven purchases worth making while paychecks are still coming in. We ranked them by urgency, and some are pricier than you’d think. The one at the top of the list only gets more expensive every year you wait, so join Ayla on The Flyover Podcast as she counts down all seven and reveals which purchase you can’t afford to sit on your to-do list. Tune in here!

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Lawmakers Push Back on Nuclear Waste Plan

Tennessee lawmakers on both sides of the aisle are raising concerns about where nuclear waste could be stored as the state advances its proposed Nuclear Lifecycle Innovation Campus, centered on Oak Ridge.

Reps. Kelly Keisling and Ed Butler, and Sen. Heidi Campbell, each wrote to Gov. Bill Lee about the issue. Campbell demanded the state release its unredacted federal proposal and disclose which sites are under review.

The state has identified Cumberland Plateau counties, including Pickett, Fentress, Morgan, and Scott, as potentially suitable for a long-term repository.

Butler, a Republican, told Lee the state is “not a dump site,” though he clarified he supports the broader nuclear campus and opposes only underground waste storage.

Reports of Online Child Safety Threats Surge

Reports of online child sexual exploitation in Tennessee have climbed sharply, rising from roughly 30 a month to tens of thousands in under a year, advocates say, as predators target teens through popular apps.

The Tennessee Office of Homeland Security is also tracking a viral “Cat in the Hat” trend in which AI-generated images of a sinister Dr. Seuss character are paired with threats naming specific schools and students.

Officials in several states are investigating the school-threat posts, urging people to report rather than reshare them.

Advocates say the best protections remain simple: private accounts, disabled location sharing, and open, judgment-free conversations between parents and kids.

Hiker, 91, Reclaims Appalachian Trail Record

Dale “Grey Beard” Sanders, a 91-year-old hiker from outside Memphis, has reclaimed his record as the oldest person to complete the roughly 2,190-mile Appalachian Trail.

By his own count, Sanders fell 71 times along the way, including six hard spills, one that briefly hospitalized him and another just 200 yards from the finish.

He first set the record in 2017 at age 82, then lost it to an 83-year-old friend in 2021, prompting his comeback.

Sanders hiked the Georgia-to-Maine trail in out-of-order sections with breaks, finishing atop Maine’s Mount Katahdin on Monday, where he paused to pray and thank his support team and the “trail angels” who cheered him on.

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➤ Middle Tennessee: The region has hit 90 degrees on 55 days this year, above the typical 49, but forecasters say relief is coming. Nashville’s average last 90-degree day is around Sept. 15. (More)

➤ Sevierville: Indicted District Attorney Jimmy Dunn has reversed his decision to retire and is seeking to rescind his resignation, days after his arrest on federal charges. (See Details)

➤ Murfreesboro: State Rep. John Ray Clemmons is calling on the Tennessee attorney general to investigate the Choice Lanes contract, a 26-mile tolled-lane project planned along I-24. (More)

➤ Hamilton County: Sheriff Austin Garrett has paused both the Flock and Motorola license-plate reader programs over data concerns and recent public outcry. (More)

➤ Memphis: The West Tennessee Drug Task Force seized nearly 21,000 ecstasy pills weighing over 12 pounds, transported from Houston during an interdiction operation. (See Photo)

➤ Chattanooga: Volunteers are tackling litter along the Tennessee River in the Coolidge and Renaissance Park Cleanup Challenge. (More)

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➤ The Titans waived former starting quarterback Will Levis, who went 5-16 and lost the backup job to Cam Ward and Mitch Trubisky, then claimed other teams’ castoffs ahead of Sunday’s opener at Denver. (More)

➤ Kippy Brown, the Sweetwater native who helped build Tennessee’s “Wide Receiver U” reputation as coach, and later won a Super Bowl with the Seahawks, died Monday at 71. (More)

➤ No. 22 Tennessee’s Lady Vols volleyball team hosted Illinois in the Big Ten/SEC Challenge on Tuesday, part of a marquee early-season slate as the program looks to build on last year’s momentum. (More)

➤ Vols freshman Sautron impressed in his college debut, leading the Tennessee men’s golf team through the opening 36 holes of the Visit Knoxville Collegiate on his home course. (More)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: US Open | MLB | Soccer

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➤ First Horizon Bank became Tennessee Athletics’ first-ever football jersey patch sponsor, extending its logo to multiple other Vols teams and premium seating at Neyland and Lindsey Nelson stadiums. (See Details)

➤ Bass Pro Shops is closing its Macon-area location and consolidating operations at the Memphis Pyramid, its flagship destination store. (More)

➤ Knox County set a new guardrail to stop firms from buying more than 100 homes, aiming to curb bulk investor purchases of housing. (More)

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➤ A Nashville man was indicted for allegedly cutting more than $112,000 worth of state-park trees along the boundary of Savage Gulf State Park to improve his home’s view. (More)

➤ A Hurricane Helene survivor received the keys to a new home, the 40th rebuilt by the Appalachian Service Project and Tennessee Baptist Mission Board. (See Video)

➤ The Tennessee Wildlife Federation is bringing its Wildlife Town Hall Tour to Chattanooga on Nov. 12 to gather input from sportsmen, landowners, and outdoor enthusiasts. (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.

➤ Buying these seven things before you retire could save you thousands, but the clock is ticking. (See List)

➤ Federal officials say a monthlong immigration sweep across New York netted thousands of arrests, including a number of violent criminals. (Hear Details)

➤ A Lake Tahoe swimmer needed nearly 40 stitches after an otter pulled her underwater and wouldn’t let go. (Hear Story)