Monday, August 17, 2026

Dolly Skips NightFlight, Missing Kayaker, and Starbucks Strike

Monday, August 17, 2026

Good Morning! On this day in 1786, frontiersman, marksman, and future congressman David "Davy" Crockett was born in what's now Greene County. He'd go on to serve in the state legislature, represent Tennessee in Congress, and die defending the Alamo.

Crockett lived in all three of Tennessee's grand divisions before earning his place in the history books. Has your family lived in Tennessee for generations, or are you a transplant who chose the Volunteer State? Hit reply and tell us your story.

How does the military decide who's tough enough to become a Navy SEAL? Why does it take a full year to train someone to fly a plane that never leaves the ground? And what exactly happens inside the school that teaches Americans how to survive being captured? The military doesn't advertise most of this, but the answers are out there, buried in Navy attrition reports, Army training records, and firsthand accounts from the people who made it through. Today on The Flyover Podcast, Ayla digs into what that paper trail reveals about how America really forges its warfighters. Tune in here!

Car insurance has become one of those bills that seems to creep higher every renewal, even if nothing about your driving has changed. That's why today's sponsor is Insurify, a free comparison tool that helps drivers quickly see if they're paying more than they need to.

'Teacher of the Year' Quits over Grade Dispute

Samira Hardcastle, named 2025-26 Teacher of the Year at a Metro Nashville middle school, resigned after accusing district leaders of directing her to change a student's failing grade.

She said she failed the student for not finishing an art project, prompting a parent to sit in the office for hours until administrators overrode the mark.

Hardcastle, who refused to make the change herself, told the school board the practice creates "false entitlement" and makes district scores look better than they are.

A second former teacher has since come forward with similar allegations and is suing the district over her suspension.

Parton Skips NightFlight Debut

Country legend Dolly Parton missed Friday's dedication of the new NightFlight Expedition ride, billed as the largest single investment in Dollywood's 40-year history. Parton appeared by video from Nashville instead.

The 80-year-old said dizziness and dehydration prompted her doctor to keep her home, joking that "my Nashville doctor clipped my wings."

Wearing fairy wings for the appearance, she apologized to the crowd, saying she had intended to be there in person.

The absence extends a difficult stretch for Parton, who canceled her Las Vegas residency in May and has been recovering in the year since her husband, Carl Dean, died. She has reassured fans that her treatment is going well and that she isn't ready to slow down.

Renter Loses Appeal After Citing Fake AI Cases

A Nashville renter lost his eviction appeal after the Davidson County Circuit Court found his filing bore what it called "the hallmarks of artificial intelligence."

Samuel Robinson, representing himself, cited real cases but with wrong dates, invented quotes, and fabricated references, and leaned on a model tenant-protection law Tennessee never actually adopted.

In one instance, he misquoted the state code on landlords' maintenance duties in a way that, had it been real, would have helped his case.

The court affirmed the landlord's eviction judgment.

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➤ Statewide: A new report labels Tennessee a "maternal health care desert," finding a third of counties lack maternal care services and nearly 58% have no birthing facilities. (More)

➤ Nashville: Dr. Mark Fowler, involved in a botched May lethal injection, is set to oversee the execution of Christa Pike, the only woman on Tennessee's death row, amid ongoing protocol challenges. (More)

➤ Also Nashville: Metro police are investigating after crews pulled a completely submerged, small silver sedan from the water Sunday morning. (More)

➤ Blount County: Regional crews are searching Tellico Lake for a kayaker missing since last Tuesday after his empty kayak and belongings were found drifting below Chilhowee Dam. (More)

➤ Memphis: Rep. Steve Cohen announced a $21.9 million FAA grant for Frederick Smith International Airport to fund road reconstruction, snow-removal equipment, taxiway work, and security upgrades. (More)

➤ Clarksville: A military-grade blasting cap turned up in a donated bag at a Goodwill, prompting a Montgomery County Bomb Squad response. (See Details)

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➤ Tennessee Titans 2026 draft pick Jaren Kanak will miss the entire 2026 season after suffering a pectoral injury in the team’s preseason game against the San Francisco 49ers. (More)

➤ Tennessee football finished off its second week of training camp with a two-hour scrimmage inside Neyland Stadium. Head coach Josh Heupel said he thought quarterbacks George MacIntyre and Faizon Brandon both performed well, though Heupel has still yet to name a starting quarterback. (More)

➤ Memphis had five members of its 2026 team named as HERO Sports preseason Group of Six All-Americans, including defensive cornerstones J’Mond Tapp and Ian Foster, who were named First-Team selections. (More)

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➤ Starbucks baristas held a one-day strike on Friday over what they call unfair labor practices as the chain plans a Nashville-area expansion. (More)

➤ A large Trump merchandise store along I-40 near Knoxville is closing, with the owner blaming thin foot traffic and shoppers' financial strain. The store's remaining inventory is 50% off. (More)

➤ Tesla Cybercabs were spotted in a Franklin business parking lot, offering a rare local glimpse of the automaker's autonomous vehicle. (More)

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➤ The Foo Fighters made their Nissan Stadium debut with a three-hour set in 101-degree heat, nearly 27 years after Learn to Fly was released. (More)

➤ Graceland has multiple major new attractions planned for 2027 to mark the 50th anniversary of Elvis's death, including an Elvis hologram show expected in Las Vegas. (Watch)

➤ Giles County Fire & Rescue freed a kitten trapped under an ice storage box at a local store. Employees decided to keep it and named it "Little General." (See Photos)

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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. Clicking the links will take you directly to these stories:

➤ Navy SEAL candidates cover more than 200 miles on roughly four hours of sleep, and most still don't finish. (Hear Toughest Training)

➤ Two million American raccoons have taken over Germany, and the Nazi commander blamed for it didn't do it. (Hear Real Culprit)

➤ Your beach read reveals which of four anxieties is quietly driving you. (Hear Your Type)

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More Flooding, Rising Gas Prices, and 10,000 Wins

Monday, August 17, 2026

Good Morning! On this day in 1915, Dayton inventor Charles Kettering received a patent for his automobile electric self-starter.

🏘️ From Ohio River towns to Lake Erie communities, a WorldAtlas list highlights a dozen of the Buckeye State’s nicest small towns. See which destinations made the cut in Et Cetera.

Flooding Triggers Water Rescues

Crews carried out 50 water rescues in Perry County on Sunday after overnight storms dropped about 4 inches of rain, flooding roads, stranding drivers, and forcing residents from their homes.

New Lexington Fire Chief Jim Fain said most of the rescues came from a mobile home park. The American Red Cross reported 54 people stayed overnight at a shelter at the Perry County Fairgrounds, while residents across the county continued cleaning up after another round of severe weather.

State Route 13 was closed in multiple locations, while State Route 669 was also shut down.

Kroger's Columbus Division announced a $10,000 donation for storm aid for families recovering from severe weather in Franklin and Perry counties.

Four Die in Mill Creek Crash

Four people died and a fifth was hospitalized after a vehicle crashed into Mill Creek near Queen City Avenue in Cincinnati's South Fairmount neighborhood Saturday evening.

The vehicle was found upside down in the creek. One occupant escaped and waited on a portion of the submerged vehicle until rescuers arrived, telling crews that four others remained trapped inside.

The car had been underwater for nearly an hour before crews were able to reach the vehicle using an inflatable boat.

Prisoner Continues Hunger Strike

Jacky Robinson Jr. of Akron has been on a hunger strike since July 24 at the Southern Ohio Correctional Facility in Lucasville to protest illicit drugs inside Ohio prisons.

Robinson said he had lost about 22 pounds and was experiencing dehydration, low blood pressure, pain, and numbness. He aims to launch a program to educate incarcerated people about the dangers of K2 and to obtain a transfer to another prison.

State officials said they are monitoring Robinson under prison policy, which allows involuntary medical treatment before death or serious, irreversible damage occurs.

The Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction says its anti-contraband efforts include centralized mail screening, body scanners, drone detection, and drug-detecting dogs.

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➤ Cleveland: The Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority began a 3% service reduction Sunday, eliminating the B-Line Trolley and reducing service on several routes. (See Changes)

➤ Southwest Ohio: Ohio awarded nearly $2.1 million for safer school routes in Clermont, Hamilton, and Warren counties, including $1 million for sidewalks and crosswalks near Colerain Township's Taylor Elementary School. (See Details)

➤ Statewide: A Wedgewood Polls survey showed Democrat Sherrod Brown leading Sen. Jon Husted, R-Ohio, 48% to 44% for U.S. Senate, while Democrat Amy Acton led Republican Vivek Ramaswamy 47% to 46% for governor. (See Poll)

➤ Stark County: A woman died Saturday after a tree fell from a wooded area and struck her Jeep as she traveled west on U.S. 30. (More)

➤ Lorain: A 17-year-old and an 18-year-old were fatally shot during a gathering at a short-term rental early Sunday. Police arrested 19-year-old Alexander Gibbons at the scene. (More)

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➤ The Cleveland Guardians earned the 10,000th victory in franchise history on Saturday with a 6-1 win over the San Diego Padres, becoming the third American League club to reach the milestone. (More)

➤ Matt McLain set the Cincinnati Reds' franchise record for a second baseman with his 108th consecutive errorless game, passing Brandon Phillips. (More)

➤ Three-time Cincinnati Open champion Novak Djokovic lost 2-6, 6-4, 6-4 to No. 50 Thiago Agustín Tirante in his first match since Wimbledon, ending Djokovic's 10-match Cincinnati winning streak. (More)

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➤ Gas prices across Ohio rose by 32 cents on average to $4.27 per gallon. Prices were highest in Canton-Massillon at $4.42, while Lima was the lowest at $4.15. (See Prices)

➤ Georgesville Nissan has permanently closed after nearly a decade on Columbus' West Side. The dealership is consolidating its operations and vehicles with sister store Buckeye Nissan. (More)

➤ Cencora, a Fortune 100 pharmaceutical company, has started work on a $106 million, 534,000-square-foot facility in Harrison at the Harrison Commerce Center. (See Details)

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➤ A WorldAtlas list highlights 12 of Ohio's nicest small towns, stretching from Portsmouth along the Ohio River to Vermilion on Lake Erie. (See List)

➤ Ohio State football coach Ryan Day said the decision to change Senior Day to the Sept. 5 opener against Ball State was made to keep rivalry week focused on the Michigan game. (More)

➤ Two Ohio Powerball tickets won $50,000 each in Saturday's drawing. No ticket claimed the $21.7 million jackpot, pushing Monday night's prize to $35 million. (More)

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