Monday, April 20, 2026

A Hero Rat, a Blind Runner, and an Honest Teen

Good Afternoon!

Wake up without aches with today's sponsor the knēNest Knee Pillow. Designed for side sleepers seeking better alignment and deeper sleep. Its unique cradle design supports your knees, hips, and spine while reducing pressure and discomfort. Stay cool, sleep comfortably, and feel the difference in just one night. Experience smarter, more restful sleep tonight.

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

➤ A rat that found over 100 landmines in Cambodia just got a 7-foot statue in its honor. (Listen Now)

➤ This blind runner from England is set to become the first blind person to complete a full marathon. (Hear Story)

➤ An 18-year-old Chick-fil-A worker found nearly $10,000 in cash in the bathroom. What was his response? (Hear Details)

Hit play and get the full scoop.

Thanks for cruising with us,
The Flyover✈️

Unsubscribe (Step One)

The Flyover, LLC
1910 Thomes Ave.
Cheyenne WY 82001

Storm Wedding Surprise, Lucky Diner Streak, and Toddler Songs

Monday, April 20, 2026

Good Afternoon! Even when tornadoes happen, and people are bracing for the worst, sometimes you get moments of grace instead. From a wedding that turned into a joyful group celebration to a restaurant manager guiding dozens to safety, we have the uplifting details in today's Feel Good Flyover.

Tune into today's episode of The Feel Good Flyover, where host Christopher Lyon shares stories you can only find in the podcast, including the inspiring story of a runner attempting to become the first blind person to complete a full marathon. Plus two more heartwarming stories sure to leave you smiling. Listen here.

Today’s sponsor, the knēNest Pillow, is designed to relieve nighttime pain and improve sleep by keeping your body properly aligned for deeper, more restorative rest.

Tornado Turns Wedding into Joint Celebration

A tornado forced nearly 400 guests to evacuate an upper floor of the Oklahoma City Convention Center during a wedding celebration for Visha and Ankeet Shah as guests rushed downstairs unsure if the celebration was derailed. They ended up sheltering downstairs next to a junior volleyball tournament already in progress.

What happened next surprised everyone. Players started taking photos with the couple, then joined in the celebration, chanting the bride and groom's names and lifting them into the air.

The volleyball players even helped recreate the garba, a traditional Indian dance the reception had been in the middle of when the sirens went off.

"It was the kindness of strangers truly," Visha said. "My tears were sad in the beginning but then towards the end it was happy tears."

Applebee’s Manager Shelters 50 in Tornado

An Applebee's manager in Three Rivers, Michigan, guided 50 customers and staff to safety in the restaurant's kitchen when an EF-2 tornado with 130 mph winds struck. Aubrey McKenzie, who has been afraid of storms since childhood, has been called a hero for her quick thinking.

Before getting everyone into the windowless prep kitchen, Aubrey peeked outside one last time and spotted a man with his dog sitting in a pickup truck and a boy on his phone, and urged them to come inside. Moments later, the tornado hit.

"Your ears were popping. It was loud," Aubrey said. "You would, by the sound of it, think these walls weren't going to hold."

No one who sheltered in the kitchen was injured. Aubrey has brushed off the hero label. "I just felt like I did what I was supposed to do," she said.

Nantucket Diner Produces Fifth Millionaire

A small diner on Nantucket has become one of the luckiest spots in Massachusetts. The Old South Diner just produced its fifth million-dollar lottery winner in two years after a $2 million Powerball ticket was sold there.

The latest winner, longtime resident Mary Haley, claimed her prize surrounded by friends. "I was born and raised on Nantucket," she said. "It's very exciting to have a local resident win."

The streak began in March 2024 when a Boston visitor scratched off a $1 million prize. Since then, the diner has sold at least five tickets worth $1 million or more, earning $60,000 in bonuses and sparking a 37% jump in lottery sales at the location.

The Massachusetts Lottery's deputy director of communications, Rachel Guerra, offered a practical explanation: "The more tickets a store sells, the more likely they are to have a big winner." Still, manager Binod BK summed up what regulars already feel: "There's something about this place."

The following stories are featured exclusively on The Feel Good Flyover Podcast. Clicking the links will take you directly to these stories:

➤ A rat that found over 100 landmines in Cambodia just got a 7-foot statue in its honor. (Listen Now)

➤ This blind runner from England is set to become the first blind person to complete a full marathon. (Hear Story)

➤ An 18-year-old Chick-fil-A worker found nearly $10,000 in cash in the bathroom. What was his response? (Hear Details)

Flying together with our sponsor

Tired of waking up with aching hips, sore knees, or lower back pain? The knēNest knee pillow is designed specifically for side sleepers, using a unique cradle shape to keep your knees properly aligned all night. By preventing bone-on-bone pressure and keeping your spine in a natural position, it helps your body finally relax into deeper, more restorative sleep.

Made with premium memory foam and built-in airflow for cool, all-night comfort, knēNest stays in place while you move—so you’re not constantly readjusting. The result: less stiffness, better sleep quality, and mornings where you actually feel rested and pain-free.

LEARN MORE

➤ A Southwest Airlines crew turned a routine flight into a celebration for a 2-year-old who'd just beaten cancer. Flight attendants announced his victory over the intercom as passengers erupted in cheers and applause. (Full Story)

➤ A dying man's final wish was to thank the hospice nurses who cared for him by serving them with a meal, so his brother called multiple restaurants. Due to Easter, all of them were closed until one owner gave up his day off and sent pizzas to the entire nursing staff. (More)

➤ One dad has been turning his toddler's wildly imaginative stories into full-blown songs, and the internet can't get enough. His melodic renditions of tiny tales about dragons, snacks, and dinosaurs have racked up millions of views. (Watch Video)

➤ Rescuers spent four hours saving a tiny kitten who tumbled into a bucket of industrial glue, carefully cleaning the sticky mess from its fur until it emerged fluffy and clean. (See Photos)

➤ A betta fish found pale-white and unhealthy in a pet store turned vibrant electric blue after weeks in a proper home, showing it’s now thriving. (Watch Video)

➤ A family-owned Detroit bakery was struggling until a viral TikTok review called their cupcakes the best in the metro area. Now they're selling out daily and baking 2,000 cupcakes to meet demand. (See Video)

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ Discover the viral products everyone’s talking about. Smart gadgets, clever home upgrades, and everyday essentials designed to make life easier, faster, and more fun. From innovative tools to must-have problem solvers, these trending finds deliver real results without the hype. See what’s going viral and why shoppers can’t get enough. (SHOP NOW)

An 8-year-old Fort Worth boy danced out of the hospital after beating cancer following weeks of treatment.

video via The Dallas Morning News - YouTube

A man went to his doctor with a carrot in one ear and some broccoli in the other. He even had some celery stuck up both nostrils.

The doctor said...

Flying together with our sponsor

Wake up without aches with the knēNest Knee Pillow—designed for side sleepers seeking better alignment and deeper sleep. Its unique cradle design supports your knees, hips, and spine while reducing pressure and discomfort. Stay cool, sleep comfortably, and feel the difference in just one night. Experience smarter, more restful sleep tonight. (LEARN MORE)

"The girls were basically singing with us, dancing with us. They made us feel like royalty."

— Ankeet Shah, on how volleyball players joined his wedding celebration after a tornado forced guests to shelter in an Oklahoma City gym.

Unsubscribe

The Flyover, LLC
1910 Thomes Ave.
Cheyenne WY 82001

$2B Budget Issue, Operation Bear Claw, and Snoop’s Ice Cream

Monday, April 20, 2026

Good Morning! On this day in 1958, the Key System’s last train crossed the Bay Bridge between Oakland and San Francisco in the early Sunday morning hours, ending transbay rail service. Crews soon dismantled the tracks.

A peaceful Temecula morning took a surprising turn when a hot air balloon made an unexpected backyard landing Saturday, drawing a crowd of neighbors. More in Top Stories.

Today’s sponsor, Share-Ify, is using AI to help food companies improve safety, streamline operations, and respond faster to potential risks across the supply chain.

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.

California’s $2B Pension Issue

A roughly $2 billion accounting issue tied to California's public employee pension system was not publicly disclosed for weeks.

The issue stems from a $1.6 billion double-count of retirement contribution rates and a separate miscalculation of about $450 million in future estimates. The nonpartisan Legislative Analyst's Office flagged it in February.

Gov. Gavin Newsom's January spending plan projected a $2.9 billion deficit for next fiscal year. Both his administration and legislative leaders were aware of the discrepancy in February but did not publicly disclose it until KCRA 3 reported it Friday.

Newsom's Department of Finance disputes that framing. "This isn't a calculation error. It's a revision to better estimate how these payments are made," spokesman H.D. Palmer said.

Assemblyman David Tangipa, R-Fresno, the Assembly Budget Committee's vice chair, has called for a full timeline of when the administration learned of the issue. Newsom's revised budget is expected in May.

High-Speed Rail Closes Fresno Street

Fresno Street closes today for about a year as crews build a high-speed rail underpass through downtown Fresno.

The project is part of California's broader high-speed rail construction, with traffic detoured through the downtown area.

The closure will limit direct access to Libelula Restaurant and the Crest Theatre. Owners Kim and Ian Cookson say the state acquired the parking lot across the street in February, and revenue has dropped about 50%.

"The High-Speed Rail construction on Fresno Street is quite literally walling us off," the restaurant said. Libelula has been voted downtown Fresno's best for four straight years.

The California High-Speed Rail (HSR) Authority says it and its contractor are working to mitigate impacts, including adding signage for detours.

A second HSR project starts Thursday: the northbound Highway 99 off-ramp at Herndon Avenue closes, launching underpass work expected to last through winter 2027.

Balloon Makes Emergency Landing in Temecula

A hot air balloon carrying 13 people made an emergency landing in a Temecula couple's backyard Saturday morning.

The pilot brought the balloon down after winds died and fuel ran low. No one was injured, and the property wasn't damaged.

Homeowners Hunter and Jenna Perrin were watching TV and doing yoga when a neighbor knocked to say a balloon had landed on their lawn. The basket narrowly missed fences and trees, and neighbors gathered to watch.

"It was from Pixar's 'Up'—that's what it looked like," Jenna Perrin said.

Crews brought additional fuel tanks and moved the balloon out to a transport truck. The two-hour operation ended with neighbors cheering.

Hot air balloon rides are common over Temecula's wine country, and a neighbor told the Perrins their home sits directly in the flight path.

Flying together with our sponsor

48 Million Americans Get Sick From Food Every Year. Share-Ify's AI-Based Solution is Fixing That

Share-Ify is the world's first AI-based platform helping food companies keep food safe and act fast when it matters. Every inspection, supplier record, allergen alert, and traceability log stays connected, automated, and updated in real time.

There are more than 5 million food companies worldwide, most of which are still running on spreadsheets and phone calls. Share-Ify has already modernized 35,000+, including Denny's, Outback Steakhouse, and McLane, yet has captured less than 1% of the market.

Invest before Share-Ify scales from $4 million in annual revenue to a targeted $160 million by 2030.

➤ San Francisco: Residents gathered Saturday near Geary and Market streets to mark the 120th anniversary of the 1906 earthquake, featuring a restored 1928 Kleiber Light Wagon fire truck—believed to be the last of its kind—as a tribute to the city’s recovery efforts. (See Details)

➤ Mount Shasta: The U.S. Forest Service planted nearly 280,000 ponderosa pine seedlings across 1,091 acres in 15 days, restoring forest scorched by the 2021 Lava Fire on the mountain’s north and northwest slopes. (See Details)

➤ Davis hosted its annual Picnic Day Saturday, with about 75,000 visitors expected. Police doubled staffing and added restrictions after last year’s shooting at an unpermitted event injured three people. (More)

➤ Bakersfield: The Kern River is expected to flow through the city starting May 1 for at least six weeks, possibly lasting up to five months, officials said. Increased runoff from this year’s snowpack is driving the temporary return after years of dry conditions. (Read Story)

➤ Santa Cruz County: A PG&E equipment issue at a Santa Cruz substation knocked out power to about 18,400 customers Friday afternoon, briefly closing rides at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk and stranding riders on the Sky Glider before crews restored service later in the day. (See Details)

➤ Fresno: Fresno-based Robo Enrichment is putting robotic dogs Ben Ben and Parker to work across the Central Valley, helping people with loneliness and social anxiety connect through play. (Read Story)

➤ Los Angeles: Federal authorities arrested Woodland Hills resident Shamim Mafi, 44, at LAX on Saturday night, alleging she brokered weapons deals on behalf of Iran, including drones, bombs, and millions of rounds of ammunition sold to Sudan. She faces up to 20 years in federal prison and is scheduled to make her first court appearance today. (See Details)

➤ Lake Arrowhead: Three Southern California residents were sentenced in “Operation Bear Claw,” an insurance scheme worth about $141,800 in which they staged a fake bear attack on a Rolls-Royce Ghost using a person in a bear suit. Investigators, aided by state wildlife experts, determined the “bear” in their video was actually human. (See Details)

➤ San Diego: A new Ruffin Canyon trail connecting Serra Mesa and Mission Valley opened Friday after more than a decade of planning, featuring a tunnel under Friars Road that provides public daylight access through the Escala community. (See Details)

➤ Luke Kennard scored a career playoff-high 27 points, while LeBron James added 19 points and 13 assists as the Lakers beat the Rockets 107-98 in Game 1 of their first-round series on Saturday night. Los Angeles played without Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves, while Houston was missing Kevin Durant. Game 2 is Tuesday night in Los Angeles at 7:30 p.m. (More)

➤ No. 1 UCLA rallied past Minnesota 6-4 on Saturday, scoring four runs in the sixth inning to extend its Big Ten winning streak to 20 games. Mulivai Levu delivered the key two-run double as the Bruins improved to 35-3. (More)

➤ A group led by billionaire investor Jose E. Feliciano and Kwanza Jones is nearing a deal to buy the Padres for a reported $3.9 billion, according to reports. The sale would set a Major League Baseball record. (More)

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ Scientists at Washington University discovered that doing this simple couch-yoga pose fixes constipation, bloating, and embarrassing gassy moments. At the same time, they were shocked to see that something SO simple can empty your bowels faster than any laxative or fiber-rich diet can. Read all about this revolutionary trick here: This Couch-Yoga Pose Clears Your Gut Fast.

➤ Walmart plans to remodel 56 California stores in 2026, including 21 in the greater Sacramento area, as part of a 650-store national overhaul. The company says it has invested $1.1 billion in its California stores over the past five years. (See Details)

➤ Snoop Dogg’s Dr. Bombay Ice Cream opened its first physical storefront Sunday at 1827 Ocean Front Walk on the Venice Beach boardwalk, with a noon ribbon-cutting ceremony. The shop marks the brand’s first move into a brick-and-mortar location after its national launch. (See Details)

➤ Monrovia-based Trader Joe's agreed to a $7.4 million class action settlement after receipts at some stores displayed the first six and last four digits of customers' card numbers. Shoppers who paid by card between March 5 and July 19, 2019, can claim about $102 by June 9. (See Details)

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ Elon Musk is so desperate for electricity…He shipped a power plant across the ocean. He's running dozens of gas turbines around the clock. And by some estimates, he's burning nearly $1 billion a month because he can't turn on the world's largest supercomputer without equipment that takes up to two years to get. One small company can deliver it on his timeline. Wall Street hasn't connected the dots yet. See the one stock Musk can't build without >>

Flying together with our sponsor

Meet the Tech Innovator Outback Steakhouse Can't Live Without

Before an Outback Steakhouse ribeye reaches your table, dozens of companies along the supply chain touch it.

Each must know exactly what's in it, where it came from, whether it's been inspected, and that every safety certification is up to date. Multiply that by millions of products and millions of companies, and you start to see the scale of the problem.

It's why Outback parent company Bloomin' Brands is one of 35,000+ companies using Share-ify to stay on top of it all, joining industry standouts like Denny’s. Share-ify’s AI-based digital hub lets companies manage and share all of that information from one place, in real time.

And when Bloomin' joins, their entire supplier network follows. That's how Share-ify has grown 40%+ annually for five years running, almost entirely through word of mouth.

Invest before Share-ify scales toward a $160 million revenue target by 2030.

This is a paid advertisement for Share-ify’s Regulation CF offering. Please read the offering circular at https://invest.share-ify.com/

➤ Wildflower season is ramping up in Northern California, with early blooms already spotted across the region. Key viewing spots are highlighted in a recent list of 10 Northern California spots to see wildflower superblooms this spring, from Mount Diablo to North Table Mountain near Oroville. (See Details)

➤ Cerritos eighth grader Aaryan Balani, 14, developed an artificial intelligence-powered visor called EYEVA that alerts people with strabismus, or crossed eyes, when their eyes drift out of alignment. The device won top honors at the Orange County Science & Engineering Fair and is now in the patent process. (See Details)

➤ Humboldt Bay and Eureka Model Railroad Club is marking more than 50 years at its Seventh and A streets clubhouse in Eureka, where members build detailed model railways inspired by history and personal memories. (Read Story)

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ I check every single one of my patients for this...Because it can signal a heart attack is right around the corner. Are you at risk? Please check now.