Rabu, 19 Agustus 2026

$1.2B Surplus, Donated School Records, and Bargatze's World Record

Wednesday, August 19, 2026

Good Morning! On this day in 1966, the Beatles faced hostility from protestors during two Memphis concerts, with one demonstrator even exploding a cherry bomb on stage.

Tennessee just closed its books with a $1.2 billion surplus, which brings us to today's question: if your state had an extra billion to work with, how would you like to see it used? Hit reply and let us know.

Where did margarine go? Why did an entire country stop eating liver almost overnight? The food industry doesn't advertise these changes, but the answers are out there, buried in USDA consumption data, FDA rulings, and a peer-reviewed study that flipped decades of nutrition advice on its head. Today on The Flyover Podcast, Ayla counts down five foods that quietly vanished from the American table, and reveals the one swap science actually got backward. Tune in here!

Today's sponsor, Oricle Hearing Aids, is helping readers hear more clearly without the sky-high prices—offering a tiny, easy-to-use hearing aid with clear sound and all-day power for under $100.

Nashville Sues Over Election Strings on Grants

Nashville has filed a federal lawsuit challenging the Trump administration's move to withhold Homeland Security first-responder grants unless the city changes how it runs elections.

FEMA's new conditions would require Nashville to plan a switch to hand-marked paper ballots, run a 5% manual ballot audit, and verify voters and poll workers through the federal SAVE citizenship system.

The suit, filed with three other jurisdictions in Ohio and Texas, argues FEMA has no authority to dictate election rules, which the Constitution leaves to states and Congress.

Metro says failing to comply would cost it 20% of grants it has used for hazmat and terrorism-response equipment.

School Bus Crash on I-65 Injures Two

A Davidson Academy school bus crashed on Interstate 65 South in Nashville around 7:45 a.m. Tuesday, sending one child and one adult to the hospital with what police described as minor injuries.

The wreck happened near mile marker 92, between Vietnam Veterans Boulevard and Old Hickory Boulevard, in the northern part of the city.

Metro police say 19 children were aboard the bus at the time, and no one else was hurt.

Officials have not yet released a cause; photos from the scene showed the bus stopped in the roadway. Drivers were warned to expect delays through the morning commute.

Tennessee Closes Year With $1.2B Surplus

Tennessee finished fiscal year 2025-26 with a $1.2 billion surplus, leaving the state's next governor a substantial cushion heading into office.

Finance Commissioner Jim Bryson said the surplus was driven partly by inflation and higher-than-expected corporate tax collections, though he urged caution, noting those payments may need adjusting.

Tennessee ran a budget of nearly $60 billion for the year, about half of it covered by state tax revenue.

The state is now in its 2026-27 budget year, and the surplus will factor into the 2027-28 budget, which lawmakers begin shaping in November and finalize next spring.

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➤ Statewide: Tennessee saw the nation's largest property tax increase over six years, the only state where property taxes rose more than 75%, renewing calls for a cap. (More)

➤ Nashville: A man was arrested on an aggravated assault charge after police say he pointed a laser at a Metro Nashville police aircraft over the weekend. (More)

➤ Also Nashville: A Goodwill shopper stumbled onto an unexpected find over the weekend: a batch of Metro public school records that had somehow ended up donated. (More)

➤ Blount County: The search for missing kayaker Rick Kitts on Tellico Lake has been scaled back after nearly a week, as his family holds out hope and remembers his selflessness. (More)

➤ Knoxville: The city is spraying targeted herbicide to kill invasive kudzu at Fort Dickerson Park, applied directly to the leaves by licensed contractors rather than broadly across the park. (More)

➤ McNairy County: Coon Creek marks 100 years since geologist Bruce Wade's 1926 publication documenting 300-plus fossil species. The site is now a UT Martin science center serving thousands of students. (More)

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➤ Four-star quarterback Kaden Craft, a top-10 passer in the 2028 recruiting class, committed to Tennessee this week. The North Carolina native chose the Vols over LSU, Oregon, and Michigan. (More)

➤ Nashville ranked 15th out of 30 NFL markets in a new Nielsen fan passion index that tracked TV viewership, radio, merchandise, and five other metrics. Buffalo, Kansas City, and Green Bay topped the list. (More)

➤ Vanderbilt football added former Temple defensive lineman Khalil Poteat through the transfer portal after he received a court injunction granting him eligibility for the 2026 season. He had 29 tackles and two forced fumbles for the Owls last year. (More)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: MLB | WNBA | Tennis

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➤ A Tennessee trial testing whether Instagram is harmful to teens has entered its fourth week, with the state Attorney General accusing Meta of putting profits over young users' safety. (More)

➤ Tri-Cities Airport reported continued growth through the first half of 2026 despite challenges, extending a multi-year upward trend. (More)

➤ The beloved Belmont Grill in East Memphis, known for its knotty-pine walls and year-round Christmas lights, is closing after 42 years following the sale of its Poplar Avenue property. (More)

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➤ Tennessee comedian Nate Bargatze set a Guinness World Record for the most tickets sold on a stand-up comedy tour, a milestone for the "clean comedy" star. (More)

➤ A new made-in-Memphis film called Elijah Peel is reaching theaters nationwide with a redemption story rooted in the Bluff City's storytelling tradition. (More)

➤ County fairs are returning across West Tennessee, with schedules set for rides, food, and entertainment. The West Tennessee State Fair runs in October in Henderson. (See Fair Details)

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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:

➤ Your childhood kitchen held these five staples that America has abandoned, and experts now say one is healthier than butter. (See Foods)

➤ Fraternity pledges were allegedly forced to cut and bag cocaine for a sprawling drug ring at Penn State. (Hear Details)

➤ Reports of worsening conditions aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln are raising serious questions about life on the warship. (Listen Now)