Friday, July 3, 2026

Trump Accounts Launch, Bible Verse Barred, Weight-Loss Drug Sold Illegally

Trump Accounts roll out with $1,000 deposits, a Bible verse sparks a graduation dispute, and banned weight-loss drugs are sold in Brooklyn bodegas.

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Birthright Citizenship, July Fourth Celebrations, and a Moving Tragedy

Happy Fourth of July weekend! Celebrations are already underway across Ohio ahead of tomorrow’s 250th anniversary of American independence, and if you’re looking for ways to join in, check Top Stories for events happening around the state.
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Top Stories

Article Icon 1Senator Targets Birthright Citizenship

Ohio Sen. Bernie Moreno said he will introduce legislation to end birthright citizenship, turning to Congress after this week’s U.S. Supreme Court ruling left the concept intact.

Moreno said he’s reviving legislation originally introduced by former Senate Democrat leader Harry Reid, D-Nevada. The Immigration Stabilization Act of 2026 would end birthright citizenship, increase penalties for illegal immigration, and reduce legal immigration.

Moreno criticized the Supreme Court’s ruling on social media, saying it ignored the 14th Amendment and “handed a win” to the Chinese Communist Party.

Vice President JD Vance, an Ohio native, called the ruling “atrocious,” warning that it would fuel birth tourism. He also pointed to a “silver lining,” saying the split vote showed that the concept of birthright citizenship is “hanging by a thread.”

Article Icon 1CBJ, Werenski Address Trade Rumors

The Columbus Blue Jackets and star defenseman Zach Werenski addressed trade rumors directly Wednesday, seeking to clear up public confusion after Werenski rejected a trade to the Dallas Stars.

Blue Jackets general manager Don Waddell said in a statement that Werenski indicated earlier this spring that he was uncertain about a potential future contract extension with Columbus, prompting Waddell to explore trade options.

Werenski said he wished that “this wouldn’t have become such a public thing,” but added that he wants to win, and he wants to “do that in Columbus.”

Columbus also lost captain Boone Jenner to the Washington Capitals in free agency amid uncertainty surrounding Werenski and other players. Jenner signed a four-year, $23 million contract with Washington.

Article Icon 1Fireworks to Light Up Ohio's Skies

Ohio will roll out dozens of fireworks shows over Independence Day weekend, giving nearly every region a way to celebrate America’s 250th birthday.

Red, White & BOOM! in Columbus headlines today’s schedule as one of the Midwest’s largest displays. Cedar Point’s Star-Spangled Celebration is ongoing in Sandusky, while Conneaut hosts Red, White & Boom Over Lake Erie.

Cincinnati will hold neighborhood shows throughout the holiday weekend, while Dayton’s Lights in Flight returns downtown and Nelsonville stages Thunder in the Valley.

Cleveland officials expect more than 100,000 visitors for Light Up the Lake and are warning drivers to prepare for heavy traffic and limited parking.

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The Flyover

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Around Ohio

➤ Statewide: Ohio attorney general candidates are calling for greater transparency at JobsOhio after an ethics complaint accused the board chairman of conflicts tied to a $100 million nuclear-reactor fund and a utility he lobbies for. (More)

➤ Also Statewide: During hearings before the state legislature’s Joint Data Center Committee, lawmakers have suggested that foreign social media influence, including activity tied to the Chinese Communist Party, may be helping fuel pushback against data centers. (More)

➤ Columbus: The city Rec & Parks Department post celebrating Somali Independence Day drew online backlash, prompting the department to delete the message after it spread widely. (More)

➤ Cleveland: The family of slain police officer Jamieson Ritter is suing the city, alleging the department was dangerously understaffed when he was killed in the line of duty. (More)

➤ Toledo: East Toledo is slated for a major overhaul of Front and Main streets after U.S. Sen. Jon Husted announced $19.5 million in BUILD grants for the project. (More)

➤ Cincinnati: Breeze Airways is launching two seasonal nonstop routes from Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport to Greenville-Spartanburg, South Carolina, and Portland, Maine. (More)

➤ Also Cincinnati: The U.S. Coast Guard warned Ohio River boaters about a surge in dangerous debris from recent flooding ahead of the July Fourth holiday weekend. (More)


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Ohio Sports

➤ The Ohio State University’s Board of Trustees approved Ohio Stadium renovations, including a new south end zone video board and upgraded audio system, with work expected to be completed before the 2027 football season. (More)

➤ An Ohio judge is expected to rule July 9 on a preliminary injunction request from 24 men’s and women’s college basketball players challenging new NCAA age-eligibility rules. (More)

➤ Ursuline College sued the Great Midwest Athletic Conference, alleging the league is forcing the school out because it primarily sponsors women’s sports, creating scheduling problems for men’s teams. (More)

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

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Ohio Business

➤ Cincinnati-based Kroger said Giant Eagle will keep its name after Kroger’s $1.65 billion acquisition of the grocery chain, with Giant Eagle continuing to operate as a division of the parent company. (More)

➤ The Ohio Supreme Court upheld a ruling allowing utilities to bill customers to support two money-losing coal plants, ending a dispute tied to the House Bill 6 scandal. (More)

➤ Cleveland Hopkins International Airport broke ground on its new Gold Lot, a 1,600-space parking project that is part of the airport’s broader modernization effort. (More)

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A Small Upgrade You'll Use Every Day

Some products promise to change your life. Others simply make your daily routine a little better. We think this falls into the second category. If you're going to brush your teeth every day anyway, it makes sense to see if there's a faster, easier way to do it.

Learn more about the Sonic Glow Brush and see if it's right for you today.

Et Cetera

➤ An Ohio family moving from the Buckeye State to Florida found their household belongings, from a child’s bed to a grandmother’s violin, being auctioned off after they had already paid the movers. (More)

➤ The Ohio State Highway Patrol is adding troopers to the roads throughout the July Fourth holiday weekend as part of the national Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over enforcement campaign. (More)

➤ The city of Akron opened its first esports game room at the Lawton Street Community Center ahead of a middle school summer camp next week, with plans to open the space to the public in August. (More)

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The Hidden Panic Button That Saves Lives. InvisaWear lets you secretly call for immediate help whenever you feel unsafe – without needing to reach for your phone or draw attention to yourself. Learn More

The Flyover Podcast

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:

Trump Accounts launch on the Fourth of July with a $1,000 federal deposit, though most eligible families have yet to enroll. (Hear Details)

Wisconsin school officials barred a graduating senior from including a Bible verse in the ceremony slideshow. (Hear Episode)

Brooklyn bodegas are openly selling an experimental weight-loss drug over the counter, despite a federal ban on its commercial sale. (Listen Now)

The Poll

What’s your favorite part of the Fourth of July?

  1. Parades
  2. Patriotic music
  3. Fireworks
  4. Decorations
  5. Historical traditions
  6. Time with family
  7. Cookouts
  8. Other (let us know!)

Yesterday's Results:

Do you plan to watch fireworks this weekend?

  1. Probably not: 33%
  2. Yes, from my neighborhood: 29%
  3. Yes, at a fireworks show: 25%
  4. Yes, I plan to set some off: 13%
Ohio Trivia

Three men from the 8th Ohio Infantry Regiment received the Medal of Honor for actions at which two Civil War battles?

Show me the answer

The Ohio Flyover

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School Takeover Halted, Prosthetic Leg Saved, and Za Lab

A federal judge granted Shelby County a temporary restraining order Wednesday, blocking the state's oversight board from taking control of Memphis-Shelby County Schools.                
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Top Stories

Article Icon 1Judge Halts Takeover of Memphis Schools

A federal judge granted Shelby County a temporary restraining order Wednesday, blocking the state's oversight board from taking control of Memphis-Shelby County Schools.

The order came just hours before the board's first official meeting was set to begin, forcing the cancellation of that session and preserving the elected school board's authority for now.

The county's lawsuit argues the state's takeover law is unconstitutional and that allowing the nine-member appointed board to override elected officials would violate the district's constitutional rights. The order keeps the current MSCS leadership and contracts in place while the case moves forward.

State Rep. Mark White, who sponsored the oversight legislation, called the order a waste of time, while school board member Towanna Murphy called it a victory. The state plans to release a full MSCS audit on July 8.

Article Icon 1Burchett Speaks Out at MKUltra Hearing

Tennessee Rep. Tim Burchett made headlines after he questioned a witness at a House hearing on the CIA's MKUltra mind control program about whether similar human experimentation research could still be operating today. See video here.

Burchett's question drew cheers from the room. The witness acknowledged that any comparable program would likely operate under "deep secrecy."

The hearing, led by Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, was billed as an effort to examine the history of MKUltra, the CIA program that secretly experimented on human subjects with LSD and other methods from 1953 until it was shut down in the early 1970s. Much of its documentation was destroyed on orders from the CIA director following Watergate.

Burchett also asked whether mind control may have played a role in assassination attempts against President Trump. A former CIA officer has said she doesn't believe the underlying research ever truly stopped.

Article Icon 1Band Heads to Philly for America 250

The Claiborne High School band is marching in Philadelphia this weekend as part of the Salute to Independence Semiquincentennial Parade. The event has been billed as the largest professionally produced America 250 parade in the nation, featuring 250 bands representing all 50 states and U.S. territories.

The East Tennessee band, which paid nothing out of pocket thanks to community fundraising, will march in two parades, performing in front of what organizers expect to be millions of spectators during America's 250th birthday celebration.

"It means so, so much to be able to represent our great state of Tennessee in the 250 national parade," said drum major Whitney.

Assistant Band Director Michael Bloomer added, "To be here doing this on the 250th, while the World Cup is going on, we get to present ourselves in front of multiple nations. It's truly an awesome experience."

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The Flyover

A Smarter Way to Brush in Just 30 Seconds

Most of us spend two minutes brushing our teeth twice a day. The Sonic Glow Brush takes a different approach. Its soft, U-shaped mouthpiece surrounds your teeth and uses sonic vibrations to clean them all at once, delivering a full brushing routine in as little as 30 seconds.

It's easy to see why so many people are making the switch. Whether you're trying to get out the door faster in the morning, simplify your evening routine, or just want an easier way to stay consistent, this brush offers a refreshing alternative to a traditional toothbrush. It also features multiple cleaning modes, built-in blue light whitening technology, and a rechargeable battery that's perfect for home or travel.

If you're looking for a smarter, faster way to brush, see how the Sonic Glow Brush works here.

Around Tennessee

➤ Statewide: Tennessee's emergency management department got a new name and a promotion. TEMA now stands for Tennessee Emergency Management Authority and has been elevated to a standalone cabinet-level department. (More)

➤ Smith County: Rescue crews dove 12 feet into the Caney Fork River on Wednesday to recover a prosthetic leg lost when a canoe overturned. The group then continued their trip downriver. (More)

➤ Davidson County: West Nile Virus has been detected in a local mosquito pool for the first time this year, health officials announced Wednesday. (More)

➤ Chattanooga: National Geographic spotlighted the city's remarkable turnaround from having the worst air quality in the country 50 years ago to now being a popular tourist destination. (See Details)

➤ Knox County: The school district faces a $7.8 million budget shortfall after the county redirected property tax revenue away from the district, and the state cut projected funding. (More)

➤ Rutherford County: A new Storybook Trail opened at the Patterson Park Community Center, the second such interactive outdoor reading path for children in the county. (See Video)


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Tennessee Carolina Sports

Tennessee athletics officially switched from Nike to Adidas this week, the beginning of a 10-year apparel deal. New uniform designs will roll out across multiple sports from July 6 through July 9, with Adidas merchandise hitting stores on July 10. (More)

➤ The Nashville Predators have been among the busiest teams in the NHL this offseason, acquiring forward Mavrik Bourque from Dallas, center Ross Colton from Colorado, and winger Nils Hoglander from Vancouver through trades. They also re-signed center Jack Drury and added free agent forward Alex Kerfoot. (See Deals)

➤ The Memphis Grizzlies traded forward Santi Aldama to the Dallas Mavericks for guard AJ Johnson and three draft picks. Aldama averaged a career-high 14 points for the team last season before knee surgery ended his year in March. (More)

➤ This November's Battle 4 Atlantis college basketball tournament in the Bahamas will feature the Memphis Tigers in a four-team pod with Mississippi State, Wake Forest, and Penn State. (More)

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

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ Big AC companies are panicking over this new cooling invention that helps Americans stay cool for less. Stop suffering from extreme temperatures and high electric bills. Get instant cooling in summer and cozy warmth in winter with CoolCove. Learn More

Tennessee Business

➤ Memphis-based FedEx is selling its supply chain division to French logistics giant CMA CGM for $1.4 billion, offloading about 10,000 employees to sharpen its focus on healthcare and data centers. (More)

A Johnson City smoke shop owner is turning his Tipton Street location into a late-night pizza place called Za Lab after Tennessee's new THCA ban wiped out about 75% of his retail sales. (More)

➤ Ugly Bagel opened a new location in Mt. Juliet, marking the Middle Tennessee bagel brand's third store in just 18 months since launching in The Arcade Nashville. (More)

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ Neutralize Harmful EMF Radiation & Keep Enjoying Your Tech. EMF exposure can lead to fatigue, poor sleep, headaches, and brain fog. Our Odin SafeWave shield uses field-disruption tech to neutralize EMF radiation from devices. Learn More

Flying together with our sponsor

A Small Upgrade You'll Use Every Day

Some products promise to change your life. Others simply make your daily routine a little better. We think this falls into the second category. If you're going to brush your teeth every day anyway, it makes sense to see if there's a faster, easier way to do it.

Learn more about the Sonic Glow Brush and see if it's right for you today.

Et Cetera

➤ Two newborns at Williamson Medical Center are celebrating America's 250th in style, dressed in hand-crocheted Benjamin Franklin and Betsy Ross outfits made by an EMS team member. (See Photos)

➤ The Tennessee Titans will sell seats, signage, turf, and memorabilia from the current Nissan Stadium online this summer. Proceeds will go to the Titans Foundation ahead of the new venue opening in February 2027. (More)

➤  Zoo Knoxville welcomed two baby red pandas in June, marking mom Sisu's second litter. Keepers expect the cubs to go on exhibit around the three-month mark if all goes well. (See Cubs)

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ The Hidden Panic Button That Saves Lives. InvisaWear lets you secretly call for immediate help whenever you feel unsafe – without needing to reach for your phone or draw attention to yourself. Learn More

The Flyover Podcast

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:

Trump Accounts launch on the Fourth of July with a $1,000 federal deposit, though most eligible families have yet to enroll. (Hear Details)

➤ Wisconsin school officials barred a graduating senior from including a Bible verse in the ceremony slideshow. (Hear Episode)

Brooklyn bodegas are openly selling an experimental weight-loss drug over the counter, despite a federal ban on its commercial sale. (Listen Now)

  

The Poll

Do you think the state should take over Memphis-Shelby County Schools?

  1. Definitely
  2. Maybe
  3. No way
  4. I have no idea

 

Previous Results:

If you could meet one American history legend, who would you choose?

  1. Benjamin Franklin: 24%
  2. Abraham Lincoln: 23%
  3. Other (reply to tell us!): 19%
  4. Harriet Tubman: 17%
  5. Paul Revere: 17%
North Carolina Trivia

What Revolutionary War-era figure was greeted as “Friend of Liberty” when he visited Nashville in 1825?

Show me the answer

The Tennessee Flyover

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Trump Accounts Launch, Bible Verse Barred, Weight-Loss Drug Sold Illegally

Trump Accounts roll out with $1,000 deposits, a Bible verse sparks a graduation dispute, and banned weight-loss drugs are sold in Brooklyn...