Tuesday, February 24, 2026

Good Morning! On this day in 1978, a derailed freight train carrying liquid propane exploded in Waverly after warming temperatures ruptured the damaged tank cars, killing 16 people, including the town's fire and police chiefs.

Tennessee-born comedian Nate Bargatze is turning a classic bit into a game show with tomorrow's premiere of The Greatest Average American. See details about the Nashville-filmed show in today's Et Cetera.

Did you know that the team that makes The Tennessee Flyover also produces a national publication called The Flyover? Click here to sign up and stay up to date with the latest national headlines—without the bias of legacy media outlets.

If you invested $100 in 1965 in gold, what would it be worth by the end of 2025? What about real estate and stocks? On today's episode of The Flyover Podcast, host Ayla Brown breaks down a new analysis with the answer. Which choice turned pocket change into a small fortune, and which one barely budged? Watch to learn more.

Today's sponsor, The Consumer Gift Guide, highlights the winter must-haves Americans are turning to as Arctic air and dangerous cold drive a surge in demand for smart, practical seasonal essentials.

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.

Vanderbilt Reviews Lecturer Over Classroom Slide

Vanderbilt University has launched a formal inquiry after a classroom slide referencing Israel and Palestine circulated online and drew backlash.

The image, shared by advocacy group StopAntisemitism, allegedly came from a math course and included a problem about land decreasing "due to the occupation by Israel."

The university said the content has been removed, and the matter is under review in line with school policy, but offered no further details.

The controversy adds to ongoing tensions on college campuses nationwide over the conflict in the Middle East.

Court Halts Murfreesboro Landfill Expansion

A Davidson County judge has kept a court order in place blocking a controversial proposed expansion of the Middle Point Landfill in Murfreesboro.

The ruling stops the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation from processing BFI Waste Systems' application until the project goes before a Regional Solid Waste Board, as required by state law.

The proposed expansion would add 70 feet, about the height of a seven-story building, and allow up to 19 million more tons of waste, extending the landfill's life into the 2040s.

The City of Murfreesboro sued in December, arguing BFI skipped the mandatory local review and public hearing process.

ORNL, Kairos Launch $27M Nuclear Push

Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) and Kairos Power have launched a $27 million partnership to accelerate the development of next-generation nuclear reactors in East Tennessee.

ORNL will provide technical expertise and access to specialized facilities to support Kairos' fluoride salt-cooled high-temperature reactor design and component testing.

The Department of Energy is also investing up to $303 million in Kairos' Hermes demonstration reactors under the Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program.

Kairos is building its low-power Hermes 1 reactor in Oak Ridge, the first non-light-water reactor approved for construction by federal regulators.

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Cold Weather Drives Surge in Demand for Winter Must-Haves

As Arctic air sweeps across the country, many are rethinking how they prepare for extreme cold. This winter weather checklist breaks down the must-have essentials people rely on to get through snow, ice, and dangerously low temperatures.

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➤ Memphis: Federal investigators are looking into a train collision that took place Sunday morning after an Amtrak train collided with a slow-moving freight train. (More)

➤ Also Memphis: A water main break that flooded part of downtown has been traced to a "vintage" early-1900s pipe. As repairs continue, the surrounding area may experience low pressure and discolored water. (See Pipe)

➤ Nashville: The city's newly formed Winter Storm Response Commission met for the first time yesterday to review the handling of January's deadly ice storm. (More)

➤ Rutherford County: About 40 local school bus routes are out of service after a contractor lost insurance coverage, forcing the district to excuse absences and scramble to cover routes. (More)

➤ Elizabethton: A local veteran has donated more than $160,000 to build a new city park in honor of his daughter, who was stillborn while he was serving in the Vietnam War. (More)

➤ Jackson: Snakes, lizards, and even kangaroos took over the fairgrounds this weekend as the Exotic Pet Expo returned with rare animals and hands-on learning. (See Photos)

➤ Men's Basketball AP Poll: Vanderbilt dropped six spots to No. 25 this week, while Tennessee re-entered the rankings as No. 22. (See Full Poll)

➤ No. 13 Tennessee baseball lost a series to Kent State this weekend—its first nonconference series loss since 2020. (More)

➤ Meanwhile, Sage Mardjetko's no-hitter led No. 1 Tennessee softball to a 9-0 win over Southern Illinois. The Lady Vols are now 14-0 and have outscored opponents 113-5 to start the season. (More)

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➤ Chattanooga Volkswagen workers have ratified their first-ever United Auto Workers contract, locking in a 20% pay raise and enhanced benefits. (More)

➤ Jack Brown's Beer and Burger Joint is opening in downtown Clarksville, bringing Wagyu beef burgers, over-the-top specialty creations, and a lineup of craft beers. (More)

➤ Century-old Pittsburgh sweet shop The Milkshake Factory is bringing its handspun shakes and small-batch chocolates to Murfreesboro, opening on Saturday. (More)

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➤ The self-cleaning, bacteria-killing water bottle everyone's talking about. UVBrite transforms ordinary water into purified, germ-free hydration at the press of a button. Using hospital-grade UV-C LED technology, it eliminates 99.99% of bacteria and viruses while keeping drinks hot or cold for up to 12 hours. Safe water—anywhere you go. (LEARN MORE)

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Cold weather doesn't stand a chance.

Discover the smartest winter gadgets of the season: from heated gloves and car essentials to snow-ready tools that make icy mornings easier. These practical finds are designed to keep you warm, safe, and comfortable all winter long. Upgrade your cold-weather routine before the next freeze hits.

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➤ Comedian Nate Bargatze's new game show, The Greatest Average American, is filming in Nashville, offering contestants a $67,920 grand prize pegged as the average American salary. (See Details)

➤ Kappy the dog visited the Knoxville fire station this weekend, stopping by with her humans to thank the firefighters who rescued her from an apartment fire. (See Photo)

➤ Riverbeat Music Festival is back at Memphis' Tom Lee Park on May 1-3, featuring Ice Cube, Wu-Tang Clan, Marshmello, Dave Matthews Band, T-Pain, Salt-N-Pepa, and more. (See Details)

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➤ Do you wake up with yellow gunk in your eyes? (Read This). That may not be "just sleep." Some experts warn it could signal hidden toxins affecting your vision. A simple 12-second technique is now being used to help restore and safeguard vision. Find Out All About It.