Sunday, May 17, 2026

Eric Church’s Advice, Scam Warnings, and a Scientific Breakthrough

Good Morning!

Today’s sponsor, Audien Hearing, is helping thousands of Americans hear conversations clearly again with discreet, rechargeable hearing aids designed to deliver affordable, crystal-clear sound without the massive price tag of traditional devices.

Today’s episode of The Flyover Podcast with Amy Hess has a few stories you won’t find in today’s emailed edition, only in the podcast episode, because not everything fits in an inbox.

Here's a sneak peek of what we're diving into in today's Podcast Extra section:

➤ Musician Eric Church used six guitar strings to share life lessons with UNC graduates. (Hear More)

➤ A new report shows scammers aggressively target Americans over 60. (Listen Now)

➤ Scientists uncovered genes that may unlock the secret to regrowing human limbs. (Podcast Available)

Hit play and get the full scoop.

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Gas Tax Suspension Extended, Chick-fil-A Celebration, and Beltline Economic Impact

Sunday, May 17, 2026

Good Morning! On this day in 1864, during the Civil War’s Atlanta Campaign, Union and Confederate forces clashed in the Battle of Adairsville in Bartow County.

The original Chick-fil-A Dwarf House in Hapeville celebrated its 80th anniversary. Learn more in Et Cetera.

In case you missed it, this week on The Flyover Podcast, Ayla Brown shared three simple habits researchers say may help keep your brain sharp as you age. Scientists believe small everyday choices could play a bigger role in long-term cognitive health than many people realize. Listen here.

Today’s sponsor, Splash Spotless Cleaning Products, is here to upgrade your spring cleaning routine with a hands-free foam toilet cleaner that tackles stains and odors without scrubbing—just pour, let it foam, and flush for a fresh, sparkling bathroom.

Don’t feel like reading the national edition of The Flyover? Tune in to The Flyover Podcast! New episodes drop daily—watch on YouTube or listen on Spotify and Apple Podcasts, all in under 15 minutes.

Gas Tax Suspension Extended

Gov. Brian Kemp extended the state’s gas tax suspension from May 20 through June 3.

The suspension began on March 20 and was set to expire on May 19. The move extends the suspension for another two weeks.

Georgia drivers are paying an average of around $4.01 per gallon for regular gasoline as of Saturday, roughly 50 cents below the national average of about $4.52, according to AAA.

“As Georgia families prepare for the Memorial Day travel weekend, they should not feel blindsided by prices at the gas pump,” Kemp said in a statement.

UGA Graduate Dies in Cliff Jumping Incident

A University of Georgia graduate, Jayden Barreto, 24, of Columbus, died Wednesday after jumping from Chimney Rock into Lake Martin near Montgomery, Alabama, during a graduation celebration with friends.

Multiple agencies took part in the search for Barreto. Crews searched the water for several hours before locating his body on an underwater shelf roughly 50 feet below the surface.

A celebration of life for Barreto is set for May 20 at Striffler-Hamby Mortuary’s Fisher Chapel in Columbus.

Officials have said there is no indication of foul play. An investigation remains ongoing.

Atlanta Beltline's Economic Impact Revealed

The Atlanta Beltline generated an estimated $23 billion in annual economic impact in 2025 and has sustained more than 91,000 jobs, according to a new analysis.

The Beltline has also attracted more than $14 billion in private investment since the project began, surpassing its original $10 billion investment goal years ahead of schedule.

The report also found that 2.5 million people visit the Beltline annually, spending more than $52 million at nearby businesses.

Leaders aim to complete the Beltline's full 22-mile loop by 2030.

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➤ Atlanta: $2 million in federal funding has been secured to support the establishment of a new memorial park honoring late civil rights icon and congressman John Lewis. (More)

➤ Warner Robins: Police in the city will conduct a “Click It or Ticket” traffic enforcement campaign from May 18 through May 31 to encourage seat belt use and improve road safety. (More)

➤ Savannah: Sprouts Farmers Market has signed a lease to open its first location in the city at Crossroads Shopping Center. The grocery store is expected to open in 2027. (More)

➤ Macon: Unified Legacy, a metal-fabricating company, is expected to break ground on a $125 million plant on Barnes Ferry Road this year, adding 500 new jobs to the area over several years. (More)

➤ Hall County: Gov. Brian Kemp has extended the suspension of Sheriff Gerald Couch for another 30 days after Couch, who was previously arrested on DUI charges, was recently arrested again on additional driving-related charges. (More)

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➤ Top-seeded Georgia beat NC State to advance to Saturday’s NCAA women’s tennis semifinal against Texas A&M. (See Result)

➤ No. 3 Georgia Tech baseball clinched its second straight ACC regular-season championship and 11th in program history Friday with a 14-1 win over No. 23 Boston College. (More)

➤ Atlanta Braves outfielder Mike Yastrzemski, grandson of Boston Red Sox legend Carl Yastrzemski, hit a walk-off RBI double in the bottom of the 10th inning Friday to beat the Red Sox. (Watch Video)

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➤ Ray’s Donuts opened a new location Friday in a former Church’s Chicken building on South Lumpkin Road in Columbus. (More)

➤ The original Chick-fil-A Dwarf House in Hapeville celebrated its 80th anniversary Friday with tours, live entertainment and special menu items honoring the birthplace of the Chick-fil-A chicken sandwich. (More)

➤ Spelman College in Atlanta is celebrating a historic graduating class this year with a record seven valedictorians, all of whom earned perfect 4.0 GPAs. (More)

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50 fun facts you may not know about Georgia!

Have you ever been to the original Chick-fil-A Dwarf House in Hapeville?

1. 1. 1. Yes
    2. No

Yesterday's Results:

Are you voting in Georgia's primary on May 19?

1. Already voted early: 50%
2. Yes, on Tuesday: 27%
3. Not registered / not eligible: 12%
4. Undecided: 11%

Which university in Georgia was the first state-chartered public university in the United States?

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Fisk Making Quantum Leap, a Tax Surplus, and Downtown at Sundown

Sunday, May 17, 2026

Good Morning! On this day in 1983, the U.S. Department of Energy announced that significant amounts of mercury had been discharged over many years from its plant in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, during work supporting hydrogen bomb development.

We've officially entered the season of outdoor fairs, concerts, festivals, and shindigs. What are some of your favorite large communal gatherings in Tennessee? Hit reply to let us know what we should check out.

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.

Hemp Company Relocating to North Carolina

One of East Tennessee's largest hemp retailers, Gold Spectrum CBD, and its parent company, Greenbean Ventures, filed a WARN notice with the Tennessee Department of Labor last week, announcing 121 layoffs starting July 13. The company is relocating to North Carolina, moving $750,000 in annual payroll across state lines.

The move is a direct response to Tennessee's THCA ban, which takes effect June 30 and eliminates products that Gold Spectrum says represent roughly 75 percent of overall Tennessee hemp sales. The company is also closing seven retail stores. CEO Zack Green said the company had hoped the state would extend the deadline.

Tennessee's hemp industry has generated hundreds of millions of dollars annually, and businesses across the state are now navigating both the state ban and looming federal regulatory changes that could reshape the broader market by late 2026.

Fisk Plans $1 Billion Quantum Leap

Fisk University unveiled a $1 billion "Quantum Leap" campus master plan Friday, the most ambitious expansion in the Nashville HBCU's 160-year history.

The 10-year initiative includes a $400 million innovation center anchored by a new data center, a sports arena, a new student center, and renovations to campus residence halls. Construction on the data center is set to begin immediately.

University officials said the plan will dramatically grow Fisk's enrollment and establish it as a national leader in education, though details on funding partners were sparse at the announcement.

Wings of Liberty Museum Opens

The Tennessee Wings of Liberty Museum officially opened Friday at Fort Campbell, near Clarksville, three decades after the project was first envisioned.

More than 450 soldiers, veterans, and civilians attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony at the 51,000-square-foot facility, which chronicles Army aviation history from World War II aircraft through present-day air assault operations.

TriStar Health donated $100,000 to the museum on opening day. Admission is free and open to the public.

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➤ Knoxville: The Knox County school board pushed Friday to reverse a ban on Alex Haley's book Roots, which was pulled from school libraries under Tennessee's 2022 book restrictions law. (More)

➤ Gray: The Appalachian Fair turns 100 this year and is adding two extra days to the celebration, which runs the week of August 22. The U.S. Army Golden Knights parachute team will headline the festivities. (More)

➤ Memphis: Memphis Light, Gas and Water began a major road closure in downtown Memphis on Friday, expected to last approximately three months, disrupting traffic in the central business district during an ongoing infrastructure project. (More)

➤ Statewide: Tennessee tax revenues exceeded budget estimates for April, the state's Department of Finance and Administration reported Friday, continuing a streak of above-projection collections that has strengthened the state's fiscal position ahead of budget season. (More)

➤ Nashville: Developers behind a new 32-story mixed-use high-rise in the Pie Town neighborhood marked a major construction milestone this week, with the project expected to reshape the emerging arts district just south of Lower Broadway. (More)

➤ Belmont softball fell to No. 1 Alabama 3-0 at the Tuscaloosa regional yesterday after allowing three first-inning runs, sending the team to an afternoon elimination game. (See Score)

➤ No. 7 Tennessee softball staved off a late comeback attempt from UVA to secure a victory at the Knoxville Regional and move closer to a Women's College World Series berth. (More)

➤ Vanderbilt baseball tallied six first-inning runs in a 9-5 win over South Carolina on Friday, earning a series win in its last conference series of the season. (More)

➤ The Tennessee Titans officially agreed to terms on a rookie contract with 2026 second-round pick Anthony Hill Jr. on Friday, making him the seventh member of the 2026 draft class to sign with the team. (More)

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➤ Chattanooga: JFest, the Tennessee Valley's largest Christian music festival, returned for its 26th year yesterday at Tennessee Riverpark, bringing multiple stages, national touring acts, and family activities to the downtown waterfront. (More)

➤ Nashville: Japan's men's national soccer team will hold a free open training at GEODIS Park on June 8, giving fans a chance to watch a World Cup contender prepare in Music City ahead of this summer's tournament. (More)

➤ Clarksville: The Downtown @ Sundown free outdoor concert series returns for 2026 at Downtown Commons, bringing live music throughout the summer. The series kicks off this weekend and runs through the fall. (More)

➤ Nashville: BNA will begin blasting on Monday for a new parking garage expansion. Travelers should expect brief traffic delays twice daily on weekdays through mid-June as construction crews break ground. (More)

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