Wednesday, September 23, 2026

Good Morning! On this day in 1985, "CJ2K", Chris Johnson, was born. The Tennessee Titans running back would go on to rush for 2,006 yards in 2009, becoming one of only a handful of players ever to top 2,000 in a season.

A Blount County cattle farm traded cows for color this year, blooming into a sprawling field of sunflowers that's now drawing visitors by the carload. What's the most beautiful spot you've stumbled on right here in Tennessee? Reply and tell us. 🌻

What's your go-to headache cure? We ran the 10 most popular home remedies for headaches past neurologists, and the verdicts are all over the map. One popular trick can actually make the pain worse, and the remedy with the strongest scientific evidence might not be in your medicine cabinet at all. See if your remedy made the list, and what the experts had to say about it. Ayla has the details on today's episode of The Flyover Podcast. Tune in here!

Today’s sponsor, Doroni, is developing the H1-X personal flying vehicle with safety-focused technology and intuitive, AI-assisted controls, and is offering investors the opportunity to get in at $3.30 per share.

TVA Weighs $1.37B to Keep Coal Plants

The Tennessee Valley Authority's reversal on retiring two Tennessee coal plants could cost more than $1 billion over several years, though a final price hasn't been set.

The utility had planned to shutter the coal units at its Cumberland and Kingston fossil plants by 2035, but now intends to keep them running as demand climbs.

Its own analysis found keeping Cumberland online could cut system costs by nearly $1.8 billion, partly offset by the investment needed to maintain the aging plant.

TVA, the nation's largest public utility, serves about 10 million people across seven states.

Boring Company Buys Nashville Land

A company linked to Elon Musk's Boring Company bought commercial property on Murfreesboro Pike in Nashville for $7 million, county records show.

The land sits along the anticipated route for the Music City Loop, an underground Tesla taxi system meant to connect downtown with Nashville International Airport.

Separately, state officials approved a plan to seek a master developer for state-owned lots near the Capitol tied to the tunnel project.

The purchase signals the venture is moving from concept toward acquiring the physical footprint it would need. Questions remain about funding, timeline, and regulatory approval for the ambitious system.

$132M Overhaul Coming to Hermitage

Andrew Jackson's Hermitage in Nashville announced a $132 million project to build a new visitor and education center and expand its historic spaces.

The plan includes redesigned landscaping and a roughly 70,000-square-foot center, much of it built below ground to preserve sight lines from the mansion.

Leaders say the project will let the site tell a more complete history, including the stories of the people who lived, worked, and were enslaved on the property.

The 1,120-acre presidential site, which draws more than 170,000 visitors a year, cares for 800,000 objects but can display only a fraction in its current space.

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How Safe Are Flying Cars, Really?

As the flying car industry soars, geese won’t be the only ones honking loudly above the clouds. With Morgan Stanley’s prediction that the flying car industry will hit $9T by 2050, the companies that become category leaders can answer the question everyone’s asking: Are they safe?

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Their patented ducted fan system is engineered to be safer than other competitors. And their SOUL AI™ software makes piloting the H1-X so intuitive that anyone can pilot it with just 25 hours of training. It monitors every flight in real time, even automatically guiding landings and rerouting around bad weather.

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➤ Nashville: Christa Pike, the only woman on Tennessee's death row, is scheduled for execution next Wednesday unless Gov. Bill Lee grants clemency in her final days. (More)

➤ Alcoa: McGhee Tyson Airport is adding a 13th gate as part of its 10-year modernization, and several existing gate numbers will change during the work. (More)

➤ Knoxville: Local Airbnb prices are topping $10,000 for the Tennessee-Texas game this weekend, with few rentals left as demand surges. (More)

➤ Bradley County: A proposed data center would sit behind Walker Valley High School, drawing scrutiny over zoning and an existing lawsuit. (More)

➤ Memphis: Mayor Paul Young spoke out defending his role in the debate over data centers as the projects draw growing local scrutiny across the state. (More)

➤ Chattanooga: UTC's Little Miss Mag Early Learning Center will close, with enrolled children moving to expanded centers at Brown Academy and Battle Academy. (More)

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➤ No. 14 Tennessee opens SEC play against No. 1 Texas at Neyland Stadium on Saturday at noon, with Josh Heupel bracing for Arch Manning and a veteran Longhorns roster. (More)

➤ The Nissan Stadium turf reportedly hit 157 degrees during Sunday's Titans-Eagles game, melting players' cleats. The heat also sent Eagles coach Nick Sirianni for an IV at halftime. (More)

➤ Nashville's young Predators, leaning on prospects with veterans limited this preseason, hosted Tampa Bay on Tuesday after a 2-1 opening loss in which 19-year-old Brady Martin scored a highlight-reel goal. (More)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: MLB | NHL | WNBA

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➤ Why Everyone Is Suddenly “Fibermaxxing” For Weight Loss. There’s a new health trend called “fibermaxxing”—and it’s exactly what it sounds like: finding smarter ways to get more fiber into your daily diet. But simply eating more fiber may not be enough. One unique form of fiber works differently than the rest—and may be especially helpful for weight loss, bloating, and staying regular. Discover the 6 reasons people looking to lose weight are turning to this unique type of fiber.

➤ Samsung C&T will invest up to $100 million in Kairos Power's Hermes 2 demonstration nuclear plant under construction in Oak Ridge, through direct investment and engineering services. (More)

➤ Gaylord Opryland Resort is undergoing a $131 million expansion, adding about 108,000 square feet of event space, including a 31,000-square-foot ballroom, ahead of its 50th anniversary. (More)

➤ Toys 'R' Us is hinting at a potential new store at Hamilton Place mall in Chattanooga, though opening details remain unclear. (More)

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The Pentagon’s Got Its Eye on This Tech

One of the biggest indicators for forward-thinking investors is where the U.S. government puts its money.

First, they bet big on jet engines. Then drones. Now? Flying cars. The U.S. Air Force just signed a $142M deal for a company building five-seater air taxis. But our nation’s most covert operations need smaller, personal aircraft. And Doroni, the company positioned to lead the $100B personal eVTOL category, aims to capture this opportunity.

Their flying car, the H1-X, opens the skies to all military members. Their SOULAI platform is so intuitive that you can pilot their aircraft after 25 hours of training. And its patented ducted fan system is designed to be safer than competitors.

Invest at $3.30/share before the share price increases after 10/22.

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➤ Nashville International Airport is being renamed in remembrance of Dolly Parton, and her pilot niece Danielle says Dolly would be honored by the tribute. (More)

➤ A former Blount County cattle farm has bloomed into a sprawling sunflower field, giving East Tennessee visitors a golden new fall photo spot. (See Photos)

➤ Nooga Nightlife has launched a new food-themed week in Chattanooga to spotlight local dining and nightlife spots. (See 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.

➤ What are the 10 most popular at-home headache remedies, and do they actually work? (Hear Remedies)

➤ Tesla has reopened reservations for its long-delayed Roadster, nearly nine years after the car was promised. (Listen Now)

➤ Demand for wine is falling, forcing California grape growers to tear out vineyards their families tended for generations. (Hear Story)

In case you missed it, this week on Flyover Focus, we dug into the cost of living and how it affects you. Why does your paycheck buy less, and do Social Security raises keep retirees afloat? Tune in here for all of those answers and more.