Wednesday, July 15, 2026

Good Morning! On this day in 2010, country songwriter Hank Cochran died at 74 in his Nashville home. The behind-the-scenes legend co-wrote some of Patsy Cline's most enduring hits, including She's Got You and I Fall to Pieces.

Christopher Nolan's new film, The Odyssey, opens tomorrow at the Tennessee Aquarium in Chattanooga, one of only 25 theaters in the country screening it in true 70mm IMAX. Do you plan to see the film?

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Riley Strain Fraternity Lawsuit Dismissed

A Missouri judge has dismissed the wrongful death lawsuit filed by Riley Strain's family against his Delta Chi fraternity after the University of Missouri student disappeared during a fraternity trip to Nashville in March 2024.

Strain had been escorted out of a Broadway bar and was found dead in the Cumberland River nearly two weeks later. His autopsy listed the cause of death as drowning and ethanol intoxication, with a blood alcohol level more than twice the legal limit.

The court's decision was based on a lack of other U.S. courts recognizing a "special relationship" giving rise to a duty owed by one adult fraternity member to another.

The lawsuit alleged fraternity members provided excessive alcohol on the charter bus to Nashville and failed to intervene when Strain became visibly impaired.

LGBTQ Debacle Leads to Librarian Search

The Rutherford County Library System Board is inviting the public to watch virtual interviews this week for candidates to replace a former librarian who was fired after refusing to move 132 children's books with LGBTQ+ themes out of the kids' section and into the adult area.

The board called her refusal insubordination, while the librarian and her supporters said relocating the books violated First Amendment rights.

The firing drew national attention and came amid broader scrutiny of Tennessee library collections after the state's secretary of state ordered regional libraries to review their holdings for compliance with state and federal law.

That directive prompted Rutherford County to temporarily close its libraries for a week while the review was conducted.

School Cuts Chronic Absenteeism to 3 Students

Compass Berclair, a Memphis K-8 charter school, reduced chronic absenteeism from more than half its 230 students to just three in four years by forming a dedicated attendance team that meets every two weeks to review data and problem-solve individual cases.

The school secretary makes daily absence calls to families of absent students, the counselor meets with classes weekly to review attendance numbers, and students are taught to track their own absence data and know how close they are to the chronic threshold.

Principal Kamie Cowan said the key was consistent attention to data and setting clear, manageable goals for the attendance team.

The results stand in contrast to Memphis-Shelby County Schools overall, where between 27% and 40% of students remain at high risk for chronic absenteeism. High absenteeism was one of six criteria cited in the state law creating an oversight board for the district.

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➤ Statewide: Tennessee released district-level standardized test scores, showing Williamson County Schools led the state with a 73.9% all-subject proficiency rate. (More)

➤ Nashville: An alleged backyard fight club was shut down after nearly a year of complaints about monthly cage brawls, with reports of admission charges, prize money, and minors' involvement. (More)

➤ Franklin County: The school district is tightening cell phone rules ahead of Aug. 7. Elementary students can't bring devices, while middle and high schoolers must keep them off and stored during class. (More)

➤ Gatlinburg: A bear cub died Monday after its mother pulled a trash container onto it. Appalachian Bear Rescue called the death preventable, urging residents to properly secure bear-resistant bins. (More)

➤ Clarksville: A family has endowed a pre-veterinary scholarship at Austin Peay State University in memory of a beloved local veterinarian who ran an animal hospital for decades. (See Details)

➤ Chattanooga: The Tennessee Aquarium is one of only 25 U.S. theaters showing Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey in true 70mm IMAX, starting tomorrow. More than 2,500 tickets have already been sold. (See Details)

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➤ Memphis Grizzlies rookie Cameron Boozer was a standout in the team's NBA Summer League game on Monday, scoring 21 points and snagging eight rebounds. (More)

➤ Tennessee Titans guard Peter Skoronski was ranked as the ninth-best interior offensive lineman in the NFL by executives, coaches, and scouts around the league. (More)

➤ Tennessee football has reportedly offered five-star running back David Gabriel Georges the most NIL money of any team ahead of his July 22 commitment decision date. (More)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: World Cup | MLB | WNBA

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➤ Most West Tennessee counties are falling short of population projections tied to the BlueOval City automotive plant. Production delays are pushing back hiring as only half of the region's counties met their 2025 targets. (More)

➤ Southern Grist Brewing Co. is rebranding as Xul Nashville after being acquired by Knoxville-based Xul Beer Co. The taproom closes July 20 for renovations and reopens Aug. 7. (More)

➤ A Newport coffee shop is offering free food, drinks, and Wi-Fi to Del Rio flood victims, saying it's giving back after the community supported it through Hurricane Helene's aftermath. (More)

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➤ A Bristol Eagle Scout project has grown into a community-run blessing box at Woodlawn Baptist Church, offering food, a free library, and a spot to retire worn American flags. (See Video)

➤ The Hermitage in Nashville has 1,776 American flags on display through today to mark America's 250th anniversary. Visitors can purchase a flag through a donation to the Andrew Jackson Foundation. (More)

➤ A black bear roaming Jackson has prompted police attention and local humor as businesses post AI images of the bear at their stores. (See Memes)

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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:

➤ Hearing specialists say once hearing fades, it's gone for good, making a few simple habits the only way to protect it. (See Habits)

➤ Newly released records show a former special counsel's team accessed texts from dozens of lawmakers in both parties, drawing constitutional accusations. (Hear Episode)

➤ A state just cleared the way for seniors in assisted living to raise a glass together, no liquor license required. (Listen Now)