Monday, December 15, 2025

Good Morning! On this day in 1864, the Battle of Nashville began, in which the Union army achieved one of its largest victories in the Civil War.

Does your family have a beloved, quirky, or funny Christmas tradition? We want to hear about it! Reply to this email sharing your favorite Christmas tradition, along with your name and city, for a chance to be featured in our Christmas edition of The Tennessee Flyover.

Tune into today’s Flyover Podcast, where host Ayla Brown shares simple ways you can spread joy in your community through donations during a busy holiday season. Even the smallest act of kindness can go a long way in making someone’s holidays brighter. Watch the episode here.

If you’re ready to regain control over your personal information, today's sponsor, DeleteMe, offers a powerful first line of defense against the data brokers quietly collecting and selling your private details.

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.

Tennessee Schools to Add Turning Point Clubs

Tennessee will roll out Club America—youth chapters tied to Charlie Kirk's Turning Point USA—in every public high school, officials announced Friday.

The partnership, backed by Gov. Bill Lee and state lawmakers, aims to promote civic engagement through Turning Point's lens of patriotism and free-market values.

Riley Gaines, a vocal TPUSA ally, praised the move as a "cultural revival" and encouraged students to join.

Supporters frame the initiative as a counterbalance to left-leaning education systems, while critics warn it politicizes public schools and raises First Amendment concerns.

Tennessee Flooded With Robocall Complaints

Tennessee ranked second in the nation for robocall complaints in 2025, with over 1,000 reports per 100,000 residents, according to new Federal Trade Commission data.

The state trailed only Arizona in per capita complaints, as Americans filed 2.6 million robocall reports nationwide this year.

Top complaints included fake debt relief, impostors, and bogus medical offers.

While the Do Not Call Registry blocks some legitimate telemarketing, scammers continue to flood phone lines due to low costs and weak enforcement.

"Christmas Miracle" Empties Animal Shelter

For the first time ever, every dog at Mt. Juliet Animal Care and Control has found a forever home, just in time for Christmas.

Volunteers called it a "Christmas miracle" as the shelter was completely cleared, with no pups left in need.

The shelter thanked adopters, fosters, and supporters for making the rare achievement possible.

Now every wagging tail is curled up under a Christmas tree instead of in a kennel.

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➤ Statewide: New Google Trends data has revealed that the most searched Christmas cookie in Tennessee this year is the M&M Christmas cookie. (More)

➤ Columbia: Officials approved a $500 million water infrastructure project that could raise residents' water bills by up to 150% over five years, prompting fears some locals may be forced to relocate. (More)

➤ Memphis: A local pastor celebrated after a stolen trailer carrying community barbecue grills was recovered within 24 hours, allowing his church to continue feeding families and distributing gifts. (More)

➤ Murfreesboro: Firefighters rescued a person trapped about 70 feet inside a storm drain Friday night, safely pulling them out with ropes before transporting them to a hospital with minor injuries. (More)

➤ Nashville: East End United Methodist Church began renovations by removing its historic Centennial Bells for restoration, aiming to revive the 1897-era bells' sound and raise $400,000 for the project. (More)

➤ Also Nashville: A local Boy Scout troop may have to cancel camping trips after their trailer, containing $10,000 in gear that the scouts had fundraised to buy over decades, was stolen from a church parking lot. (More)

➤ Tennessee defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons caught a touchdown pass, and Tony Pollard rushed for 104 yards and a score, but it wasn't enough as the Titans lost 37–24 to the 49ers on Sunday to fall to 2–12. (See Simmons)

➤ Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia finished second in Heisman voting, falling just short of Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza, who was announced as the winner on Saturday. (More)

➤ Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant has returned to the team's lineup after missing nearly a month with a calf strain, scoring 21 points in his first game back Friday night, a 130-126 loss to the Utah Jazz. (More)

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➤ Tennessee recorded more than 8,500 layoffs in 2025, a nearly 19% increase from 2024, led by major job cuts at GM Ultium Cells, Bridgestone, and Vanderbilt Medical Center, state labor data show. (More)

➤ L.L. Bean will open its first Tennessee store in Franklin in July as part of an expansion adding eight new locations across the U.S. next year. (More)

➤ Barbara's Home Cookin' in Franklin will permanently close on Dec. 31 after nearly 30 years of serving the Middle Tennessee community. (More)

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➤ A University of Memphis professor delivered doctoral regalia to a hospitalized graduate, who missed commencement after a battle with Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma. (See Graduate)

➤ Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies marks its 25th anniversary, celebrating a milestone as a major driver of local tourism since opening in December 1999. (More)

➤ The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency is accepting entries for its annual photo contest through March 20, offering a chance to be featured in its 2026–2027 calendar. (See Details)

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➤ A new video reveals a surprising kitchen-made mixture that may help support healthy blood sugar. They say just one tablespoon of this simple blend—made from a few inexpensive supermarket items—has helped thousands feel more in control and enjoy their favorite sweets again. Watch the video to see the ingredient everyone is talking about.