Monday, September 21, 2026

Good Morning! On this day in 1967, country superstar Faith Hill was born. She'd go on to conquer Nashville, selling more than 40 million records and becoming one of the defining voices of Music City.

Birds wreaked havoc in Tennessee this week, with one causing a power outage and the other blocking a hiking trail. What Tennessee critter has caused you the most grief? Reply and tell us about your most interesting wildlife run-in.

The cost of living is the quiet force behind almost every financial decision you make, and lately it's been an uphill battle. Why does your paycheck buy less than it used to? Why is home buying suddenly out of reach for you or your loved ones? And who exactly decides what the cost of living is in the first place? In the latest episode of Flyover Focus, we take a deeper look at the number everyone quotes and how it will continue to affect your budget. (Tune in here)

Today’s sponsor is LMNT. We’ve talked about LMNT before, usually by telling you how much our team likes it. But that might not be the most useful thing we could tell you. So today, we’re taking a different approach and publishing what may be the saltiest advertisement in Flyover history.

Some Push To Delay $170M SNAP Bill

Tennessee food-assistance advocates are urging Congress to delay a new federal rule that could force the state to pay roughly $170 million more toward SNAP benefits.

The charge stems from an "error rate" calculation that penalizes states for mistakes in determining benefit amounts.

Advocates warn the sudden bill could strain Tennessee's budget and, in turn, the more than 600,000 residents who rely on food assistance each month. They argue the state needs more time to correct paperwork errors before the penalty takes effect, rather than absorbing a nine-figure hit all at once.

Supporters of the rule counter that error-rate accountability is meant to protect taxpayer dollars and push states toward more accurate benefit processing.

Delta Accused of Mishandling Remains

A family says Delta Air Lines left their father's remains unrefrigerated overnight in Memphis, allegedly causing decomposition that robbed them of a final viewing.

The body was booked to fly through Atlanta, but a missed connection meant it arrived in Memphis after the airport's cargo facility had already closed for the night at 7 p.m.

With no one to receive or refrigerate the remains, the family says their father sat in the Tennessee heat until the facility reopened the next morning.

They are now considering legal action, calling the experience a devastating breach of trust during an already painful time.

Bird Hijinks Cause Outages, Close Trail

Birds in Tennessee caused multiple mishaps this week, starting in South Nashville, where a crow triggered a power outage that hit more than 3,000 customers on Saturday night.

NES crews worked to restore power during a stretch of extreme heat, blaming the single bird for the widespread blackout.

Two hundred miles southeast, an unapologetic culprit shut down part of the Bluff Trail at Lookout Mountain Battlefield. The park revealed the "aggressive wildlife" behind the closure was a territorial barred owl, which had swooped at hikers and even injured someone.

Staff thought the owl had moved on and prepared to reopen the trail, only for it to reappear Friday morning, keeping the path closed and the humans firmly in second place.

Flying together with our sponsor

Fair Warning: Your First Sip May Surprise You

LMNT is salty. Each packet contains 1,000 mg of sodium, 200 mg of potassium, and 60 mg of magnesium, with zero sugar.

That first sip may catch you off guard, especially if you’re used to brightly colored sports drinks that taste more like liquid candy. But the salt isn’t something LMNT is trying to hide. It’s the entire point.

LMNT was created for people who want a meaningful amount of electrolytes without loading their water with sugar, artificial coloring, or a long list of unnecessary ingredients.

We reach for it before workouts, after sweating, while traveling, and on days when another glass of plain water just doesn’t sound appealing.

See why LMNT tastes different from the electrolyte drinks you grew up with. Order LMNT today and get a free sample pack with your purchase.

➤ Statewide: The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency opens applications Wednesday for 2026 early-season waterfowl quota hunts through GoOutdoorsTennessee.com. (See Details)

➤ Warren County: Two people were arrested after a man fired at a Portland police officer, sparking a 100 mph pursuit into Kentucky before he fled into a soybean field. (More)

➤ Murfreesboro: A former Wendy's manager was charged after police say she tied an employee with a neurological difference to a grill as part of a TikTok trend. (More)

➤ Nashville: City officials are raising safety concerns as rideshare and food-delivery drivers routinely stop and block traffic in some of the city's busiest areas. (More)

➤ East Tennessee: Two officers killed in the line of duty this year were honored posthumously with the Three Stars of Tennessee Award, presented by Gov. Bill Lee. (More)

➤ DeKalb County: Local firefighters battled a barn fire in extreme heat on Saturday, with several treated for heat exhaustion and one for a minor burn. (More)

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➤ The Tennessee Titans took the Philadelphia Eagles down to the wire yesterday, but allowed a go-ahead touchdown with just nine seconds remaining, letting the Eagles win 24-20. (More)

➤ ESPN’s College Gameday will head to Knoxville for Week 4 of the college football season when the Volunteers take on No. 1 Texas this Saturday. (More)

➤ The Memphis Grizzlies will honor recently deceased former player Brandon Clarke with a pregame tribute and jersey patch on NBA opening night. The team announced the news on what would have been Clarke’s 30th birthday. (More)

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➤ Why landscape contractors, retirees, and first-time homeowners are walking past every rubber and expandable hose at the hardware store and putting one of these on the spigot instead. Garden Maestro's Elite Garden Hose is built from steel! The same 304 grade steel used in industrial piping. Won't kink, won't tear, won't quit. Learn More

Flyover Focus takes a deeper look at the topics that matter. Click the link to watch this week’s full episode.

➤ Your grocery bill, your mortgage, and your retirement check all move with the cost of living. So what's actually behind that number? (Tune in here)

In the latest episode of Flyover Focus, we get into how the cost of living is measured, why the official figure doesn't always match what you see at the register, and whether the yearly raise to Social Security checks actually keeps anyone afloat. We also look at who's feeling the squeeze hardest, and whether there's any relief in sight. (Watch Now)

In case you missed it, last week on Flyover Focus, we broke down artificial intelligence, tune in here.

➤ Chattanooga's EPB brought an IonQ Forte Enterprise quantum computer online and will open it to commercial customers in early October, a first-of-its-kind U.S. facility pairing quantum computing and networking. (More)

➤ Two Franklin bars learned their fate after a city Beer Board hearing over 2024 overserving allegations. Tin Roof 2 will close within 30 days, while Kimbro's Pickin' Parlor will stay open under a new staff-training plan. (More)

➤ A University of Memphis study of xAI's Colossus data center in southwest Memphis estimated tons of annual pollutant emissions but found no significant air-quality decline in nearby neighborhoods. (More)

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➤ Home Safety Alert: It Kills While Families Sleep. Protect yours with Vital Carbon Detector. It tracks carbon monoxide, natural gas, and propane in a single device. Learn More

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We’ve Been Endorsing LMNT the Wrong Way

Instead of simply telling you we like LMNT, here’s the better endorsement: we actually use it. Packets end up in our gym bags, desks, cars, and suitcases. Everyone has a favorite flavor, and the best ones have a habit of disappearing first.

It has become one of those simple products we keep around because we regularly reach for it. Fair warning, though: once ordinary water starts tasting boring, don’t blame us.

Order LMNT today and get a free sample pack with your purchase. It’s an easy way to try more flavors and find your favorite.

➤ Nashville just tied its driest first-20-days of September on record, logging only a trace of rain in a 150-year dataset, matching 1903 and 1919. (More)

➤ Tennessee linebacker Arion Carter pledged nearly $4,000 to cancer research after the Vols' win over Kennesaw State, donating $427 per tackle in a nod to his NCAA suspension over a plane ticket. (More)

➤ Musicians Corner showcased Music City talent in Centennial Park, spotlighting local Nashville musicians and performers across a day of free live music. (More)

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ Why Do Bruises Suddenly Show Up After 50? You don't remember bumping into anything—yet another bruise appears. While many people chalk it up to aging or medication, easy bruising may be a clue worth paying attention to. It's one of 7 commonly overlooked warning signs that can become more noticeable with age. See all 7 warning signs—and what they could be telling you.